This week, Alasdair is joined by Amanda Young, an engineering PhD student at the University of the West of Scotland, who’s taking the fight to fly-tipping, quite literally — she’s a two-time ISKA world kickboxing champion!
Amanda’s research focuses on the relationship between kerbside bulky-waste collections and fly-tipping across Scotland, digging into why so many people still resort to dumping items illegally. Through interviews, surveys, and council data, she’s uncovered some striking patterns — including how charging for bulky uplifts, inconsistent services, and long waiting times can unintentionally push people toward illegal disposal. For many, it’s not laziness but lack of access, transport, or awareness of the right channels.
She and Alasdair unpack the social side of waste behaviour — how people’s decisions are shaped by stigma, convenience, and affordability. They explore the reality that bulky items like sofas, fridges, or mattresses often get dumped because it’s easier than navigating collection systems that differ from one council to another. As Amanda points out, “people aren’t necessarily trying to break the rules — they just don’t always know how the system works.”
The discussion also highlights the positive work happening across Scotland, from councils piloting free or low-cost bulky uplift schemes to social enterprises rescuing and repairing reusable furniture. Amanda argues that building circular economy principles into local waste services — focusing on reuse and community value — could reduce fly-tipping while supporting social good.
Alasdair is impressed by Amanda’s ability to connect data with lived experience, showing how waste management isn’t just an environmental issue but a human one. Her findings show that empathy, clear communication, and equal access are just as crucial as enforcement in tackling fly-tipping. The pair also touch on Amanda’s presentation at the Sardinia Symposium, where she shared Scotland’s story on an international stage and drew inspiration from global approaches to waste prevention and circularity.
By the end of the episode, Alasdair admits Amanda might have changed his mind on charging for bulky uplifts — proof that research and practical insight can shift even seasoned industry views.
Useful Links:
If you live in Scotland and would like to voice your opinions on fly-tipping in your community and the kerbside collection for household bulky items (e-waste, furniture, white goods), please click here.
If you would like to connect or follow the research journey, connect with Amanda on LinkedIn.