What actually happens after your blue bin gets rolled to the curb? And more importantly—how much of it really gets recycled?

In this week’s episode, Ginny gets back to basics (but in the real-world way, not the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” poster way) to break down what actually belongs in your recycling bin.

After a weekend in Colorado full of hiking, concerts, and a surprise recycling reality check at her Airbnb, Ginny dives into why recycling in the U.S. is so confusing, what happens after pickup, and how contamination can ruin entire truckloads of recyclables.

We also dig into:
♻️ How recycling really works—from your curb to the sorting line
♻️ Why 25% of what goes into bins ends up as contamination
♻️ The business of recycling and why some materials just aren’t profitable
♻️ The top recycling myths that keep tripping us up
♻️ What actually belongs in your bin (and what definitely doesn’t)

Plus, a reality check on where recycling fits into the bigger sustainability picture—and why it’s only part of the solution, not the end-all answer.

💚 If this episode helps you see your recycling bin in a new light, share it with a friend who still “wish-cycles” their coffee cups.
⭐ Leave a review to help more people join the eco-friendly conversation!
And as always, visit nakedsustainability.com for more mindful living guides, tips, and resources.

In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny dives deep into seed saving, native plant propagation, and eco-friendly fall prep that supports bees, birds, and backyard ecosystems.

You’ll learn:
🍂 How to collect, store, and stratify native seeds for spring planting
🐝 Why leaving stems, leaves, and “messy corners” creates critical pollinator habitat
🌻 The best native plants for seed saving (and how to share them with your community)
🪵 Practical ways to provide food, shelter, and water through the winter

This episode isn’t simply about gardening—it’s about building resilience, supporting local ecosystems, and creating a more sustainable future right from your own yard or balcony.

💚 Share with a fellow nature-lover who’s getting their yard winter-ready.
⭐ Leave a review if this episode inspires you to see “messy yards” as thriving habitats.
👉 Explore more resources at nakedsustainability.com.

There is beauty in alignment, and Renee Murphy discovered it when she walked away from a two-decade career in fashion and stepped into science, soil, and sustainability. In this episode of The Naked Sustainability Podcast, Ginny sits down with Renee to explore her inspiring journey from fashion entrepreneur to environmental scientist focused on phyto-remediation—using plants and microbes to clean toxic land and restore ecosystems.

✨ Connect with Renee: LinkedIn | Instagram

Renee shares how she found the courage to change careers in her 40s, why reconnecting with nature became her compass, and how she’s helping lead the way in innovative, plant-powered solutions to heal the planet.

We also dive into:🌿 What phyto-remediation is—and why it matters for the future of our environment🌿 The mindset shift of starting over and finding alignment later in life🌿 How nature-based solutions and circular thinking can reshape sustainability

💚 Share this episode with a friend who needs a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again and small, intentional steps are totally doable.

⭐ Leave a review if Renee’s story left you feeling hopeful and inspired. Be sure to check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nakedsustainability.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you’d like to get involved!