Most of us toss a plastic bottle into the recycling bin without thinking twice. But where does it actually go? Does recycling really work? And what happens after the truck drives away?

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Mia Quinn sits down with Laura Stewart, executive director of NAPCOR, to discuss the recycling system most people never see.

From high-tech sorting systems powered by AI to the surprisingly important role of bottle caps and labels, Laura walks through how plastic bottles move through the recycling stream and why designing products to be more easily recycled matters more than ever.

The conversation also tackles some of the biggest misconceptions about recycling, why access to curbside collection still varies across the country, and what it will take to build a more circular system that keeps a lot more valuable materials in use.

In this episode:

• What actually happens after recyclables leave your curbside bin
• Why some communities recycle far more effectively than others
• How AI is helping modernize recycling facilities
• How recycled materials are finding new life in packaging, clothing, automotive applications and more
• What U.S. recycling could look like in the next 10–15 years

Laura shares what it’s really like inside a modern recycling facility, where advanced sorting systems can identify and separate materials in seconds to be recycled into everything from new bottles to carpeting and apparel.

And Laura responds to claims that “recycling doesn’t work,” explaining why seeing the process firsthand tells a very different story.

Plus: Wisconsin travel recommendations, favorite streaming shows and outdoor adventures in a favorite state.

From startups to hands-on STEM education, Akron is emerging as a model for how cities can grow jobs, strengthen recycling systems, and build a circular economy for plastics. In this conversation, Mayor Malik shares how Akron is leveraging its roots in rubber and plastics to drive innovation—investing in pilots that help startups scale, strengthening ties between universities and industry, and creating pathways into manufacturing careers at every level.

You’ll also hear how Akron is tackling real-world recycling challenges—reducing contamination, expanding access, and improving systems over time—while working toward a more circular economy for plastics.

The episode also highlights how the city is investing in its people, from introducing students to plastics and polymers through creative STEM education to building a culture of innovation that supports the next generation of talent.

What does a career in STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—really look like today? It might mean managing thousands of employees at a federal agency, protecting breakthrough inventions through patents, or helping redesign the materials that power modern life. The common thread isn’t a straight line. It’s curiosity, adaptability and the willingness to say yes to new opportunities.

Host Mia Quinn sits down with Vaishali Udupa, Chief IP Counsel at Verizon and former Commissioner for Patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Jennifer Ronk, a plastics and sustainability expert at Dow, to explore how the next generation can build meaningful careers in science, technology, and sustainability.

Together, they talk candidly about mentorship, overcoming challenges, embracing leadership, and why you don’t need your entire future mapped out at 18. Along the way, they share candid stories about mentorship, leadership and resilience—and explain why curiosity and problem-solving are at the heart of every STEM career.

You’ll also hear how patents and intellectual property fuel innovation and how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping careers across science, engineering and manufacturing.