The Beyond Waste Podcast

The Plastics Recycling Paradox: Why the Business Model Is So Hard

Plastic recycling sits at the heart of the circular economy — yet across the UK and Europe many recyclers are struggling to survive. If recycling is such a critical part of the system, why is the business model so difficult to sustain?
In this episode, we’re joined by Richard Hudson from the CIWM and Adam Herriott from WRAP to explore the realities facing plastics recyclers today. From volatile material markets and rising operational costs to the complex policy landscape shaping the sector, we unpack what it actually takes to run a plastics recycling business.
Together we examine the plastics waste market in the UK and Europe, why so many recyclers are struggling, and what separates the companies that succeed from those that fail. We also discuss the role of policy — from Extended Producer Responsibility and waste exports to whether governments should be doing more to support domestic recycling infrastructure.
Looking ahead, we ask whether the UK Emissions Trading Scheme could shift the economics in favour of recycling — or whether market forces will simply drive a move away from plastics altogether.
It’s a candid look at the paradox at the centre of plastics recycling — and what it will take to build a system that truly works. ♻️

Wales Breaks Ranks on Glass DRS – Disaster or Game-Changer?

Wales has secured UK government approval to include glass in its Deposit Return Scheme – a move that sets it apart from England and Northern Ireland and raises major questions about the future of UK-wide resource policy.
In this episode of Beyond Waste, we speak to John Twitchen of Stuff4Life about what including glass in Wales’s DRS actually means in practice – and why it matters. Why did Wales push so hard for glass? Why did Defra agree to diverge from internal market alignment? And if glass is so important, why isn’t it included elsewhere?
We also explore the implications for reuse and refill systems, the operational impact on Wales’s high-performing recycling infrastructure, and the tensions this creates for cross-border producers and the glass and drinks industries.
Does this decision genuinely move Wales further up the waste hierarchy – or is it a complicated step toward circularity?

“Let’s Not Waste the Next 4 Years” – The Policies That Will Make or Break the UK’s Circular Transition

Planetary boundaries are under pressure. Legislation is tightening. And 2026 is shaping up to be another pivotal year for the UK’s resource and waste sector.
In this episode, CIWM’s policy, innovation and technical leaders — Dan Cook, Tina Benfield and Richard Hudson — unpack what the next phase of transition really looks like. From Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), from Simpler Recycling to Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), the sector is navigating overlapping reforms that must work together — or risk stalling progress.
The conversation explores why cross-department policy integration is critical, how resource resilience is becoming a national priority amid global volatility, and whether England risks falling behind without a clear resource sector strategy to replace its now outdated 2018 roadmap.
The team also discuss:
The circular economy growth plan and route maps
Moving up the waste hierarchy — reuse and repair as economic strategy
What’s next for EPR, including expanding material streams
Skills shortages and why workforce development may be the missing piece
CIWM’s 10 recommendations — and why we “must not waste the next four years”
This isn’t just another policy update. It’s a strategic look at whether the UK can align regulation, infrastructure and skills quickly enough to build genuine resource resilience — and turn ambition into delivery.
If you work in resources, waste, environmental policy or the circular economy, this is essential listening.

2025 in Review: Waste, Circularity & the Road Ahead

2025 was a year of big promises, policy pivots, and growing pressure across waste, resources, and the circular economy. In this special year-in-review episode of Beyond Waste, guest host David Greenfield (President, CIWM & Vice President, CEI) is joined by Charlotte Davies (CIWM Early Careers Team President) to unpack what really mattered.
From simpler recycling reforms and waste crime hitting the headlines, to AI, tracking tech, and the struggle to make circular economy language land with people, they explore the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons of the year. The conversation also looks ahead to 2026—new regulations, digital waste tracking, major events like ISWA in London, and how the sector can become more attractive, accessible, and impactful.
If you want a clear-eyed view of where the sector’s been—and where it’s heading—this is the episode to catch up.

Dennakuwo: Building Circular Futures in The Gambia

What does circular economy progress look like when it starts at community level?
In this episode of Beyond Waste, host Richard Hudson (CIWM) is joined by voices from across the Dennakuwo partnership to reflect on three years of collaboration in The Gambia.
Drawing on the newly released WasteAid–CIWM impact report, the conversation explores how skills, confidence, and local leadership can transform resource and waste management from the ground up.
From setting the wider context of waste, sanitation and circularity in The Gambia, to supporting green enterprises, behaviour change and local authority engagement, this episode offers a grounded look at how sustainable change happens when communities are empowered to lead it themselves.
Richard Hudson, CIWM (host) 
Ceris Turner-Bailes, WasteAid 
Lamin Sanyang, WasteAid
Ndey Awa Ceesay, Dennakuwo Secretary General 
Alfusainey Sey, NAACO Enterprise

Beyond Consumption: Can a Sustainable World Actually Work?

As global divisions intensify and international agreements falter, the path to sustainable consumption has never felt more uncertain. Yet the need for resource recovery, resilient systems, and fair global supply chains is only growing.
In this episode of The Beyond Waste Podcast, guest host Tim Walker (arc21) is joined by Maya de Souza (Materia Verde) and Beth Barker (Aldersgate Group) to tackle one of the most contentious questions of our time: Is a world built on sustainable consumption truly possible—or just a well-meaning illusion?
Together, they unpack the realities of SDG 12 in 2025, the stubborn chokehold of the linear economy, and what happens when global treaties stall or collapse. The conversation takes us from the shifting economic power of the Global South to the geopolitical risks of restricting consumption in nations whose economies rely on it.
Expect a candid exploration of:
Whether resource efficiency, waste reduction, policy action or lifestyle change is the real key to rapid impact
How to break free from the linear model dominating global economies
The fallout from failed international agreements—like the stalled UN Global Plastics Treaty
Building credible, just, and sustainable global supply chains
Why “sustainable consumption” sounds simple but is maddeningly complex in practice
Growing consumption in the Global South—and how to avoid replicating Western overconsumption
Why some nations view consumption restrictions as existential threats
Join us for a thought-provoking, solutions-focused conversation on what it really takes to build resilient systems—and whether sustainable consumption can ever move from ambition to reality.

Sustainable UK Cities: What, How and When?

Following the recent City Environment Debate, hosted by The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators, this episode of The Beyond Waste podcast features some of the experts that joined the debate to recap, share and further their discussion around sustainable UK cities.
The debates brief: The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators is pleased to announce the second City Environment Debate, which will focus on creating sustainable cities. Our theme is based on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

A Quick Waste Conversation: EPR Funding and the Future of Local Authorities

In this short but sharp episode of A Quick Waste Conversation, Richard Hudson (CIWM) is joined by Amy Bloom (SUEZ & CIWM Early Careers Team) to unpack the government’s latest announcement on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) funding for local authorities.
EPR is often described as a “silver bullet” for the challenges of waste and recycling—but is it really that simple? Richard and Amy discuss where the pain points might lie in implementation, whether the funding is enough to support overstretched councils, and what this all means for producers and public attitudes toward waste.
From the pressures on local budgets to the potential for long-term circular solutions, this conversation offers a clear, concise snapshot of what EPR could mean in practice—and why the sector needs to be ready for the changes ahead.
The CIWM Early Careers Team
This episode also highlights the work of CIWM’s newly formed Early Careers Presidential Team and Ambassadors. Led by Charlotte Davies, CIWM’s first Early Careers President, the team ensures that the voices of early careers professionals are heard at the highest levels of the institution.
The group’s work includes reverse mentoring CIWM Trustees, representing early careers professionals at strategic meetings, supporting outreach with colleges and universities, and shaping the design of projects and events that reflect the needs of the next generation of resource and waste leaders.
Ambassadors like Amy Bloom (SUEZ), alongside colleagues from FCC, Mott MacDonald, Bristol Waste, WSP, and more, are playing a key role in bridging the gap between early careers professionals and sector leadership. Their energy, insights, and commitment ensure that CIWM remains not only future-focused but also inclusive of the diverse voices shaping the industry today.

Inside India’s Invisible Recycling Network

In this special Festival of Circular Economy episode, guest host Mark Shayler sits down with Siddharth Hande of Kabadiwalla Connect to explore one of the most overlooked forces in global sustainability—the informal waste supply chain.
From the streets of Chennai to a data-driven map reshaping how waste is collected and processed, Siddharth shares how formalising waste picking isn’t just about better recycling—it’s about transforming livelihoods, empowering communities, and unlocking hidden value in the materials we throw away.
Eye-opening, inspiring, and grounded in real-world impact, this conversation will change how you see waste forever.

What will the waste sector look like in ten years—and who will lead it?

What will the resource and waste sector look like in ten years—and who will lead it? In this episode of the Beyond Waste podcast, host Katie Cockburn, CIWM/CEI, is joined by Bonni Jee, ASPE, and Sarah Langmaid, University of Exeter, to unpack the future of work in an industry undergoing rapid transformation.
From the rise of digitised logistics and data-driven decision-making to the emergence of new compliance and circular economy roles, we explore how the next generation of resource professionals can adapt, innovate, and thrive. Whether you’re already working in the sector or just curious about the careers shaping a sustainable future, this conversation offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
Tune in to discover how the skills of tomorrow are being built today.