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What if we could recycle just half of the plastic currently going to landfills? The answer: 173,000 new jobs, nearly $50 billion in economic output, and a stronger American manufacturing base. In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn welcomes back Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers, for a wide-ranging conversation on why recycling is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s an economic and manufacturing opportunity hiding in plain sight. Ross highlights what’s actually working in recycling today, from large-scale facilities turning plastic  into new products to advanced technologies that can recover materials once thought to be unrecyclable. He explains why the idea that “recycling doesn’t work” is one of the biggest myths holding back progress. The conversation also tackles the policy choices shaping the future of recycling, including: Why flexible, technology-neutral policies matter more than one-size-fits-all mandatesHow mass balance works (and why it’s similar to Fair Trade coffee)What states are getting right—and wrong—on Extended Producer ResponsibilityWhy a federal definition of advanced recycling as manufacturing could unlock investment nationwideLooking ahead, Ross shares what success could look like, from scaling U.S. recycling infrastructure to reaching a global plastics agreement that expands access to waste management for billions of people worldwide. And yes, there’s some fun along the way…from K-pop playlists to shark diving and guilty-pleasure reality TV.

Biodegradable water-soluble films. Recycling that reuses molecules over and over. AI that can develop more sustainable polymers. In this conversation, Sustainably Speaking host Mia Quinn sits down with Anne Kolton, Chief Sustainability Officer at SK Capital Partners, to explore the next wave of innovation in manufacturing and materials. Anne shares how her team invests in companies developing breakthrough products, how U.S. manufacturing can launch smarter, more efficient processes, and why engineering and AI will transform the materials we all use every day.  

What if your car was easier to recycle? Hyundai’s Amanda Nummy is helping make it happen.  In Episode 52 of Sustainably Speaking, we explore how biomimicry, recycled plastics, and smart design choices are helping the auto industry tackle its waste footprint — and what that means for the next generation of our cars and trucks. In this episode, you’ll hear:          •           How Hyundai’s goal is to use 20% recycled plastics by weight in vehicles by 2030          •           Why designing for disassembly is key to making cars easier to recycle          •           What we can learn from beetles and tree bark about sustainable design          •           How advanced recycling could reshape the auto supply chain

Greenwood Cemetery is the final resting place of over 50,000 African Americans whose legacies stretch back generations. But for years, erosion and neglect made the site nearly impossible to access. That changed when a group of volunteers decided not to let history disappear. In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we visit with the Greenwood community about how they worked with engineers, nonprofits, and recycled materials to reopen the cemetery's main road and preserve the stories buried there. In this episode, you'll hear: ● How recycled materials and permeable pavers were used to restore the cemetery for years to come ● Why Engineers Without Borders, the ACC and the community came together to support the project ● What the restoration has meant for families across the country ● How Greenwood is now inspiring similar restoration efforts nationwide  

Recorded live at SXSW, this episode brings together leaders from Van Dyk Recycling Solutions, Dow, and Greyparrot to explore how AI is reshaping the recycling system. From real-time data and material tracking to smarter packaging design and policy reform, it's a conversation about what's working, what's broken—and what could finally close the loop. In this episode you’ll hear: How AI helps sort waste faster, better—and more accurately than humansWhat the data tells us about redesigning packaging for recycling and remanufacturingWhy transparency tools like QR codes matter for consumersHow companies test products for recyclability before they hit the market

In the second installment our SXSW conversation with Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel from Google X, we explore what it looks like to build ambitious ideas from the ground up. This episode dives into early ‘Moonshot’ experiments with textile recycling, the role biology could play in the future of materials, and how big ideas move from the whiteboard to the real world. We also go behind the scenes of Moonshot Madness — a company-wide tradition at X to identify big ideas that could change everything. In this episode, you’ll hear: How clothing could be transformed into new, reusable materialsHow bioplastics and synthetic biology could shape the next era of manufacturingHow teams at Google’s X, the Moonshot Factory test ideas— and learn as they goWhat Moonshot Madness is, and how it fuels a culture of experimentationHow Rey and Peter’s experiences have influenced their approach to sustainability and innovationThis episode encourages you to imagine what a circular future could look like across industries — from plastics to fashion and beyond.

What if the future of recycling isn't just about managing 'waste'—but unlocking its value? At Google's X, the Moonshot Factory, turning moonshots into reality means rethinking the impossible. And in this episode, you'll hear how that vision could help build a smarter, more circular world—one molecule, algorithm, and bold idea at a time.   Recorded live at SXSW, this episode features Rey Banatao and Peter Chauvel - two of the brightest minds of Google's X, the Moonshot Factory. They're leading a bold effort to change how the world uses and reuses materials, starting with plastics. With help from AI, robotics, and new molecular data, their team is reimagining how recycling works and how we can build better systems to keep materials in use and out of the landfill. In this episode we dive into:   How advanced recycling is opening the door to reuse materials once destined for the binWhy the moonshot factory believes plastics can be recycled and remanufactured—without extracting more petroleumThe role of AI, machine learning and better data are building smarter recycling infrastructureHow better data is transforming the economics of recyclingWhat it takes to try bold ideas from inside one of the world's most audacious incubatorsWhat happens when you treat waste as a resource

Live from SXSW in Austin, Mia sits down with Rich James of Dow and Gina Oliver of the American Chemistry Council to talk all things automotive recycling. They break down how new plastics are making vehicles safer, lighter, and more efficient—and discuss breakthroughs that are keeping valuable materials out of landfills. This episode explores the path to sustainable automotives and why America has a real opportunity to lead the way.

When Matt Campana saw a YouTube video of a 3D printer creating prosthetic hands, what he really saw was an opportunity to make a difference. Little did he know how big a difference he would make. As Matt tells us, “The whole thing has been organic—from finding clients to participate to finding recipients. It's just happened exactly the way that it was supposed to.” It’s true, cutting-edge technologies and giving back to those in need are not often associated with one another. However, as 3D printing technologies advance and become more accessible it has opened the door to using them for good.  On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, we’ll share Matt’s incredible story and how he came to found Hands of Gratitude. The project works with corporate and school partners to assemble 3D printed prosthetic hands and distribute them to people around the world. While assembling a prosthetic hand may seem like a challenging endeavor, Gina Oliver, Senior Director, Automotive, at American Chemistry Council, shares her experience participating in the program.    This is an episode that will pull on your heart strings – and it might just inspire you to participate or, find your own unique way to give back.  

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and an ever-increasing reliance on electronic devices, the need for effective recycling has never been more crucial. But how do we go about recycling our electronic devices? Leaders in sustainability like Cody Oliver from evTerra are working to make that easier than ever before by improving and developing the technology to enable more recycling in this space. On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Cody shares how the old electronics collecting dust in our junk drawers can be given new life.   While advancements in electronics typically take center stage, Cody makes the compelling case that it's equally important to ensure that electronics are designed to be recycled. Plus, we’ll share tips on where you can drop off some of your old gadgets.

Adam Minter has been traversing the globe throughout his career as an award-winning journalist and author of two best-selling, critically acclaimed books, “Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade” and “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”. His objective? To uncover the facts about recycling. In the second installment of our two-part episode, Adam weighs in on the nuances that determine what makes something sustainable. Throughout our conversation, Adam shares several anecdotes to show how he makes sense of recycling and offers advice for his fellow reporters.  Adam shares why the unprecedented demand for products that use recycled plastic will transform how materials are designed, used, and recycled over the next decade. 

From scraps to facts. How does a kid who grew up working in his family’s scrap yard become an award-winning journalist and author of two best-selling, critically acclaimed books about recycling? “They always say, write what you know about. It turned out I knew something about scrap!” Adam Minter’s career trajectory is undoubtably a fascinating story in and of itself, but his reporting on global recycling is equally as intriguing. Both “Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade” and “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale” flipped the script on the discussion around recycling as Adam travels the world to uncover facts about modern day recycling. In the first installment of our two-part episode, Adam shines a light on the complicated factors that inform our perceptions about recycling and explores the way this influences our beliefs surrounding waste and recycling. Join us on Sustainably Speaking to hear Adam discuss his global adventures in recycling and his personal mission to get the facts out. This journalist’s journey might completely change the way you think about trash.

The recycling industry is going beyond high-tech. Scientists and inventors are working on cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of the industry and increasing opportunities for circularity. For example, how do we take used fishing nets and turn them into new materials for automobiles? It’s something that may have been unimaginable years ago, but not anymore thanks in part to innovators like Brian Schmatz from BASF's subsidiary trinamiX. On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Brian shows us an innovative recycling technology that could one day soon end up in the palm of your hands. His team has developed a mobile infrared spectrometer that can identify plastic at the push of a button, which helps properly and efficiently sort plastics for recycling facilities worldwide. While the science behind how these technologies work is complicated, Brian makes it simple for our listeners to understand. So, join us on Sustainably Speaking to learn more about how bright young scientists like Brian are addressing some of the greatest challenges in recycling today. He might inspire you to apply your expertise to recycling.

Everything’s bigger in Texas—and Austin’s ambitious zero waste goals are no exception. The city is blazing a trail when it comes to transforming traditional waste management into sustainable resource recovery. On this episode, Maddie Morgan from Austin’s Circular Economy Program shows us how the city is creating a more sustainable future. As you’ll find out, Maddie’s approach to improving the circular economy in her hometown is emblematic of Austin’s innovative, creative, and collaborative culture. We hope her outside-of-the-box ideas and success stories might spark solutions in other communities.  Maddie knew she had her dream job when she saw one number: 233 tons. In Texas, that’s the equivalent of 330 Longhorns or 24 eighteen-wheelers. In Maddie’s case, it’s the amount of waste that she and the Austin Resource Recovery team have kept from landfill (so far) through Move Out ATX. All told, the economic value of the materials diverted from the landfill through Move Out ATX equates to about $500,000 dollars to date. Yet, as you’ll find out, this program is just one of the many ingenious circular economy projects they are spearheading in Austin to achieve zero waste by 2040. These are projects that could be replicated in communities across the U.S., maybe even yours? If you are looking for inspiration and wondering how you can think differently about waste in your community, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.