North Hollywood residents now have a new ally in their fight against waste. Ridwell, an innovative sustainability startup that makes it easier to waste less, has expanded its services to the neighborhood – just in time for Plastic Free July. This expansion couldn’t have come at a better time, offering a simple yet effective way to reduce plastic waste and improve our environmental impact.
Ridwell’s unique approach to waste diversion addresses a critical gap in the community’s current recycling options: the company’s convenient doorstep service picks up hard-to-recycle and reusable items that aren’t accepted by regular curbside recycling programs. These items include light bulbs and batteries; plastic film like produce bags, shipping envelopes and ziptop bags; multi-layer plastic like frozen veggie bags, snack packaging and plastic coffee bags; and household textiles and clothing, which often end up in landfills or incinerators. By providing a dedicated service for these materials, Ridwell is helping to divert thousands of pounds of waste from landfills each month – already more than 22 million pounds to date!
The timing of Ridwell’s launch in NoHo is particularly significant. During Plastic Free July, we’re looking for ways to reduce plastic consumption and improve recycling habits. Ridwell’s service offers a practical solution for plastics that are trickier to avoid, like those pesky plastic Amazon bags that tend to accumulate, particularly during events like Prime Day.
But Ridwell’s impact goes beyond just collecting hard-to-recycle items. The company works with more than 200 partners to ensure responsible recycling and reuse of the materials they pick up, as well as fostering a sense of community and social responsibility by facilitating pickups for items needed by local nonprofits such as LA Family Housing, My Friend’s Place, and Rediscover Center. This initiative not only reduces waste but also supports those in need within our community.
As NoHo joins this growing network of environmentally conscious communities, we have the opportunity to significantly reduce our waste footprint. And as we close out Plastic Free July, let’s make NoHo a recycling powerhouse, one hard-to-recycle item at a time. For those interested in experiencing Ridwell’s services firsthand, the company is offering a free month of membership through the end of August.
To learn more about Ridwell and how you can get involved, visit their website or look out for their distinctive white bins that are beginning to pop up – maybe even on your neighbor’s porch!
