A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Ridwell in Denver

I was lucky enough to join my fellow members of the Boulder County Recycling Authority Board on a tour of Ridwell in Denver today—and it was such an inspiring experience!

Ridwell is a subscription-based recycling and reuse service that helps households keep those tricky items out of the landfill. Their customer base stretches from Longmont to Highlands Ranch, offering service to a wide swath of Front Range communities. For about $20 per home (on what I believe is an every-other-week schedule), Ridwell makes it easy for people to responsibly recycle items that otherwise cause headaches.

Some of the things they collect include:

• Batteries

• Lightbulbs

• Clothing and textiles

• Loose plastic bags

• Double-lined plastic packaging

What really stood out to me is that Ridwell doesn’t stop there. They also offer special collections throughout the year—things like Christmas lights, stuffed animals, and other oddball items that often get tossed in the trash. My personal favorite program? Their brand-new cork take-back program. Such a creative way to give new life to something most of us don’t know how to recycle!

As someone who has dedicated her career to recycling and waste diversion, it’s energizing to see other organizations out there working with the same passion and creativity. Getting to see how Ridwell operates, just down the road from us in Denver, reminded me that we are all in this together—neighbors, nonprofits, businesses, and communities—doing our part to keep valuable materials out of the landfill.

Here’s to more collaboration, more innovation, and more ways to make recycling accessible to everyone. Together, we can (and will!) make a big difference. 🌎💚