What do we need to address Australia’s soft plastics problem? In this episode, we sit down with Barry Cosier, Co-CEO of Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia to unpack the long road to the ACCC’s draft determination, the rise of new recycling infrastructure, and why standards, traceability, and demand are the missing links. From sausage factories to KitKat wrappers, this conversation pulls apart the myths, the gaps, and the solutions needed to finally close the loop on plastics.

Soft Plastics, Hard Truths with Barry Cosier, Co-CEO, Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia

Guests: Jonathan Maybury & Stephanie Clark (SUEZ ANZ)

In this episode, Kate Dryden and Justin Frank sit down with SUEZ leaders Jonathan Maybury (waste) and Stephanie Clark (water) for a straight-talking look at why Australia still thinks in straight lines, and how to bend systems into a circular shape. From Singapore’s NEWater to WA’s aquifer recharge and the politics of social licence, they unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and why economics is the real bottleneck. Expect pragmatic takes on energy-from-waste, purified recycled water, and the planning links we keep missing between data centres, water, and waste.

 * “Aspiration can be the enemy of progress-start with the better option now.”
 * “Be curious, not judgmental” about energy-from-waste.
 * “Yes! In my backyard”

Resources Mentioned:

 * Singapore NEWater & desalination models
 * WA groundwater replenishment (PRW to aquifers)
 * Biogas-to-grid pilots and industrial recycled water use
 * IKEA furniture buy-back; City of Sydney social housing recycling uplift

Hosts: Kate Dryden (Sphere Infrastructure) & Justin Frank (Goterra)

Closing the Loop: A Tale of Two Resources

In this episode of Loopholes, co-hosts Justin Frank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinfrankconsultant/] and Kate Dryden [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-dryden/] speak with Roslyn Florie-George [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roslyn-florie-george-8051771a/], Executive General Manager of Strategic Growth and Infrastructure at SoilCo. Soilco specialises in organics recycling and compost production. Soilco works at the intersection of waste management, soil health, and regenerative agriculture by transforming organic waste, such as food scraps, green waste, and biosolids, into high-quality compost and soil improvement products.

The conversation explores the real-world challenges of building a circular economy and the critical role infrastructure plays in managing organic waste.

Key Topics Covered

 * The realities of composting at scale, including contamination issues and infrastructure investment
 * Why compostable packaging is failing despite its good intentions
 * The green bin as a foundational but undervalued link in the circular system
 * The urgent need for harmonised landfill levies and planning regulations across states
 * The potential future of landfill mining

Check out this informative video of how SOILCO's process works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwsSHO7qvs0

The FOGO Gap : Part 2 Inside the Industry

In this episode, industry leader Gayle Sloan joins Kate Dryden and Justin Frank for an unfiltered conversation about Australia's resource recovery challenges — and how real change starts before the bin. From the politics of standardised legislation to the uncomfortable truth about overconsumption, Gayle calls out Australia's global reputation as one of the most wasteful nations and explains why we need systemic shifts in production, design, and how we measure success.

Key Topics Covered:

 * Why harmonising waste systems at the start matters
 *  The missing conversation on overproduction and hazardous materials
 *  Australia's consumption footprint — "5 planets compared to 2 in the UK"
 * The circular economy gap: how extraction fuels emissions
 * Batteries, fires, and the hidden risks in waste facilities
 *  Celebrating businesses leading on closed-loop systems
 * Why carbon, materiality, and resilience are all connectedI

Beyond the Bin with Gayle Sloan, CEO, WMRR - Why Australia Needs to Rethink Consumption, Production & Waste

What happens when bold organics mandates meet real world infrastructure gaps? Tony Chappel, CEO, NSW EPA  joins us to unpack the risks, realities, and opportunities behind NSW’s FOGO rollout. This episode covers that and so much more. From what good leadership looks like, to ridiculous packaging, to who’s really moving the needle in circularity.

What is FOGO?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. It’s a separate bin system for collecting food scraps and garden waste so they can be composted or regenerated instead of  being sent to landfill. The goal is to cut harmful emissions, recover valuable nutrients, and support a more circular waste system.

The Draft NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan is open for feedback for one more week.
Now’s the time to help shape how we build the systems we actually need.

📩 Submit your feedback: https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/draft-nsw-waste-and-circular-infrastructure-plan

The FOGO Gap with Tony Chappel, CEO, NSW EPA

A podcast investigating the breakdowns and breakthroughs in our circular systems and infrastructure.

Loopholes is pulling back the curtain on the messy middle of the circular economy. Where good intentions meet broken bins, bold policies, and the reality of ageing infrastructure.

Hosted by Justin Frank (Goterra) and Kate Dryden (Sphere Infrastructure), each episode explores what’s working, what’s failing, and what it’s really going to take to close the loop for good.

From FOGO rollouts to global case studies, we spotlight the changemakers, innovators, and revolutionaries driving the shift to circular.

Smart. Honest. Surprisingly hopeful. Subscribe and stay in the loop.

Jessica Evans

Shows