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.

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 mandates
• How mass balance works (and why it’s similar to Fair Trade coffee)
• What states are getting right—and wrong—on Extended Producer Responsibility
• Why a federal definition of advanced recycling as manufacturing could unlock investment nationwide

Looking 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 humans
• What the data tells us about redesigning packaging for recycling and remanufacturing
• Why transparency tools like QR codes matter for consumers
• How companies test products for recyclability before they hit the market