Binfluencers

Food Waste, Recycling in Flats & Reflections from ex-LARAC Chair | Cathy Cook, Senior Adviser at ReLondon

On this episode of Binfluencers, we’re chatting with Cathy Cook, Senior Advisor at ReLondon and the most recent Chair of LARAC, as she reflects on her time in the role and passes the baton to Gareth Rollings.
We dig into her recent ReLondon pilot on recycling in flats above shops across London — what it reveals about how residents actually use recycling and food waste services, the challenges they face, and what it means for future policy. We also cover the ongoing food waste debate, from caddy colours and bin placement to comms that actually work.
Plus, we chat community projects like Islington’s Friday Leftovers, personal tips such as Tim Hobbs’ “freezer filing cabinet”, and how Cathy guided LARAC through major changes like Simpler Recycling, EPR, DRS and mor

Waste Not, Want Not: The TV Prop Revolution with PropUp Project

On this episode of Better Waste Services, Emma and Kate, Founders of PropUp Project, give an insight into their mission to give TV and film set props, costumes, and furniture a second life. Since founding PropUp in 2021, these ex-TV producers have been turning leftover sets into opportunities—rehoming items to schools, charities, homeless shelters, community projects, and more. They're also the power behind ITV Reloved, an eBay page selling items from your most beloved ITV series.
They chat about the highs, the hurdles, and the logistics of making it all happen—donation pickups, partnerships, end-of-life handling, and how the circular economy keeps their wheels turning. From repurposing prison set components into local community projects to teaming up with councils for maximum impact, Emma and Kate share stories that prove one person’s leftover is another’s treasure.
Plus, they give a sneak peek into what’s next: digitalising their inventory, embedding sustainability into production budgets, and raising the bar (and funds) in the waste management world. Check them out here: https://propup.uk

Making waste a career for everyone - Ep. 13 feat. Libby Stonell

Tim and Louise talk to Libby Stonell, Editor of LetsRecycle to discuss how the waste and recycling sector must adapt to become a career and environment that works for a wider range of people.
 
The average age of waste operatives is getting higher - how can the industry attract a new generation of people who have young families, need flexible hours but want a career with prospects that can deliver a real change? #letsrecycle #flexibleworking #wastecollection #simplerrecycling

Improving Mental Health for Waste Teams : Better Waste Services - Ep. 12 feat. Sandy Anderson

Louise and Tim travelled to Fife to meet Sandy Anderson and hear about the award-winning work he's doing to improve mental health support for workers in the waste and recycling team at Fife Council.
Doing sponsored walks for charity, wrapping vehicles for Andy's Man Club, travelling the country speaking to raise mental health awareness or just doing his day job running a waste and recycling team : the man is never still. So we did quite well to get him into a chair for an hour to talk to us!
It's not always an easy listen, covering issues relating to mental health and suicide. Sandy's personal experiences with his team are both sobering and inspiring - if you manage a team of people we'd urge you to follow Sandy's lead. #wastecollection #cwrecycling #collective

Better Waste Services - Ep. 11 feat. Christine Skeldon and Jody Sherratt

Tim chats to Jody and Christine about the incredible changes they've made to how they operate waste and recycling services in Cheshire West and Chester. Eliminating the use of agency staff has allowed them to build stable, long-term employment and create new opportunities for flexible working.
Listen now to find out how they did it!
#wastecollection #cwrecycling #collective

Better Waste Services - Ep. 10 feat. Gareth Rollings

Louise and Tim speak to Gareth Rollngs of West Sussex County Council about working with UK Harvest in an alternative approach to food waste, diverting viable food away from waste and putting it to good use. Nominated for an Award for Excellence in 2024, the initiative is a community food hub rescuing thousands of tons of surplus food.
 
#ukharvest #foodwaste #westsussex #simplerrecycling #recycling

Better Waste Services - Ep. 9 feat. Dale Rowbotham

Tim talks to Dale Rowbotham of Stockton on Tees Borough Council to discuss the choices facing councils implementing new collection services. As Simpler Recycling rolls out across the country many councils are making choices about what containers to use, how to separate various waste streams and which vehicles are best for collections in different parts of their area. #stockon #wastecollection #foodwaste #bins #recycling #simplerrecycling #kerbsider

Better Waste Services - Episode 8 - feat. Matt Boulter

Tim sits down with Matt Boulter of Dorset Council to discuss his experiences as seven small districts became the large unitary authority it is now, via a waste partnership along the way!
There's loads of interesting information about how this rural authority collects and processes waste, and how it has taken residents along a journey to more modern waste and recycling services.  
#dorset #wastecollection #foodwaste #bins #recycling #simplerrecycling #tradewaste

Better Waste Services - Episode 7 - feat. David Maidman

Tim and Louise met David Maidman of Canterbury Environment Company to discuss his long experiences as a senior manager in wast services, including most recently in setting up and running a new Local Authority Trading Company. Find out about the pros and cons of different waste collection management structures and how the industry must adopt to imminent changes of Simpler Recycling, plus the general expectations of a modern recycling service. #canterbury #wastecollection #foodwaste #bins #recycling #simplerrecycling

Better Waste Services - Episode 6 - feat. Sally Rose

Tim and Louise sit with Sally Rose of Cheshire East Council and explore how they created a garden waste subscription service which is financially sustainable with a high quality customer experience. Simpler Recycling will require further development of the food waste provision in Cheshire East.
With the current commingled food and garden waste system, how will that be implemented? #gardenwaste #cheshireeast #wastecollection #foodwaste #bins #simplerrecycling