New waste collection company seeks to collect recyclables in OLT area

A new waste disposal company is servicing the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater area, collecting hard-to-recycle products.

Seattle-based Ridwell announced its opening in the OLT area last month, a membership program offering bi-weekly collections of items such as batteries, plastic films, lightbulbs, fabrics, and others; distributing to local partner companies, nonprofits, or charities that process the items for recycling or reuse.

“Our reuse and recycling service supplements Olympia’s extensive waste reduction efforts and provides residents with a positive climate-friendly solution to help keep common household items from unnecessarily being sent to the landfill,” says Ridwell founder and CEO Ryan Metzger in the press release.

Ridwell City Manager Cris Peck explained to The JOLT in an interview that households that subscribe to their services are issued a bin and labeled drawstring bags for the discarded items, with staff collecting the bin’s contents every two weeks and replacing the used bags.  The white-painted metal bins, about the size of a milkbox, are designed to sit outside, near member's front doors, at least on pickup days. 

Scheduled collection starts next week in the following zip codes, but will add service to other Thurston County areas if there is sufficient demand.

• Tues, Mar. 8:  98502, 98506, 98516 (Generally north of I-5 and west side)
• Mar. 16: 98501, 98503, 98512, 98513 (Generally south of I-5)

Peck also stated that their company is open to partnerships with cities and other partners for special collection events, where Ridwell will gather specific items in the community.

“It's a little early to have that setup, but we’re open to the conversation surrounding something like that, especially because there are partnerships with cities even close by,” Peck remarked, adding that they have had a similar collaboration with Redmond.

“We’re really excited to start working in Thurston County, and solidifying relationships with local nonprofits who need donations,” said Peck, adding that they welcome groups who would like to have them gather certain items that they want to use or recycle, like “if a school wanted us to collect popsicle sticks for art classes.”

Ridwell is a private company supported by private investments and its subscribers. "The service would not be possible if there were no people who want to recycle and reuse their household waste," according to Lisa Hill, a publicity consultant for the company.  “Members are heroes to this whole idea,” Hill remarked.

Subscriptions for Ridwell’s services range from $12 to $16 per month. More information is available on their website.