79. How colour drains the value from plastic recycling

Colour can make plastic more eye-catching, but it can also make it far less valuable, dramatically reducing the chances that it will ever be recycled back into packaging. Despite this, brands continue to add vibrant pigments to packaging to grab our attention, and more often than not, it works. In this episode, we unpack why colour is such a problem for recycling and how marketing priorities collide with material value. We also explore real-world success stories, from the removal of green from Sprite bottles to the shift from coloured to transparent milk bottle lids, small changes that make a surprisingly big difference. Plus, are flags rubbish or not, does glass need to be sorted by colour, and could Robbie set a new record for the fastest wheelie bin?

Join hosts James Piper and Robbie Staniforth as they delve into the world of recycling, hopefully having fun along the way. One thing is for sure, they will talk absolute rubbish from start to finish.

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Timestamps:
How colour drains the value from plastic recycling - 2:11
Additions and corrections - 33:14
Rubbish or Not: flags - 38:50
Rubbish News - 44:51
Does glass need to be sorted by colour? - 49:52
Residual Rubbish - 54:18

Music licence ID: 6WPY8Q4O2RPFIOTL