Ridwell, the Seattle startup that aims to keep more trash out of landfills, is adding more types of plastic to the mix of materials that it recycles. As its collection pile has grown, so has the company.
Ridwell now takes multi-layer plastic in what it’s calling a first-of-its-kind program in Seattle and other markets. The waste includes bags for chips, pet food, frozen berries, candy wrappers and other packaging that would normally end up getting tossed.
Multi-layer plastic isn’t taken by curbside recycling programs because it’s difficult to separate, sort and recycle because it’s made of different plastic types fused together. It’s not to be confused with plastic film, such as grocery bags and bubble wrap, that is already collected by Ridwell and others.
Ridwell processes, bales, and ships the multi-layer plastic to a variety of partners, depending on proximity to a Ridwell facility, who give the material a second life. Arqlite creates microplastic-free and leach-free artificial stone used to support plant life; Hydroblox makes water drainage material; and ByFusion makes construction-grade building blocks.
CEO Ryan Metzger got the inspiration for Ridwell in 2017 when he and his then 7-year-old son Owen were trying to get rid of dead batteries and realized it was something of a hassle.
Since then, the startup has grown to 80,000 members across seven metro areas in seven states, including Seattle, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis, Austin, San Francisco Bay Area and Atlanta.
Ridwell members who pay between $14 and $24 a month to have items picked up from their homes have collectively kept 14 million pounds of trash out of landfills, according to the company. Beyond plastic, items include light bulbs, batteries, clothing, polystyrene foam, and more.
Multi-layer plastic falls into the $18-per-month “Plastic Plus” pricing category.
Ridwell itself has grown to more than 200 employees including van drivers, warehouse workers and tech developers who work on such things as the Ridwell app.
Metzger said he initially had questions about whether the model would only work in the Pacific Northwest. He’s been pleased to see that’s not the case, and that as the company has scaled, new recycling opportunities and solutions have followed.
“We discovered there are people everywhere who want to take actions for the environment,” Metzger said. “Our focus is on our members and when we continue to listen to what they need, we can continue to grow.”
