What Ridwell does

Ridwell, Inc. is a privately held, Delaware-incorporated subscription recycling service headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company operates two core products: Ridwell Pickups, a bi-weekly doorstep collection service covering 15+ hard-to-recycle material categories (plastic film, multi-layer plastic, batteries, lightbulbs, textiles, styrofoam, latex paint, fluorescent tubes and more) at $20/month across eight US metros (Seattle, Portland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Austin, Atlanta); and Ridwell Mail-in, a nationwide prepaid shipping-bag service for hard-to-recycle plastics with a $30 starter kit and refills from $9/bag. The company sells directly to consumers via its website, supplemented by gift memberships, with no disclosed enterprise or B2B revenue of material scale to date.

The underlying technology stack is operational and logistics-focused rather than software-defined: route management for doorstep collection, an internal material tracking and auditing system that produces category-level recycling and contamination outcomes (97% overall recycling rate, 35 million pounds diverted from landfill), and a vetted partner network of 200+ downstream processors including Trex, ByFusion, Merlin Plastics, Hydroblox, Cycla, Vespene, Ecolights, Critical Materials Recovery, Lighting Resources, Cleanlites, Clean Earth and the Battery Network. Public-facing integrations are limited to commodity SaaS (Stripe for payments, Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel), with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary models, or partner-facing API.

The business model is direct-to-consumer subscription plus pay-as-you-go mail-in, targeting environmentally-conscious US households that want to recycle items curbside programs reject. Ridwell has grown to 150,000+ subscribers and 250+ employees as of June 2026, is B Corp certified, and filed a ~$15M securities offering with the SEC in December 2025 to fund further growth.

Name

Ridwell

Legal name

Ridwell, Inc.

Website

https://ridwell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ridwell is a Seattle-based subscription recycling service that collects hard-to-recycle household items (plastic film, batteries, lightbulbs, textiles) via bi-weekly doorstep pickup in 8 US metros and a nationwide prepaid mail-in bag service, serving over 150,000 environmentally-conscious consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (5621)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Friendly Disposal, Recycling & Donation Hauling (HSAIAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Subscription recycling service
• Doorstep pickup recycling
• Hard-to-recycle items
• Mail-in recycling bags
• Household waste diversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Subscription Pickup Service: Monthly subscription for bi-weekly doorstep pickup of hard-to-recycle items. Starts at $20/month. Includes porch bin, cloth bags, bi-weekly pickups, and rotating featured categories. Optional additional fees for oversized items like Styrofoam, latex paint, and fluorescent tubes.
2. Mail-in Recycling Service: Starter kit at $30 includes prepaid plastic film bag, prepaid multi-layer plastic bag, fridge guide, and 2 clips. Refill bags start at $9/bag. Pay-as-you-go model with no recurring billing - charges occur only when a new bag is dispatched.
3. Gift Memberships: Gift kits sold for $30 including shipping, containing starter kit for mail-in service. Gift pickup memberships available at $20/month for loved ones in pickup service areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ridwell is a subscription recycling service that collects hard-to-recycle household items curbside programs reject. Members receive bi-weekly doorstep pickup of 15+ material categories (plastic film, multi-layer plastic, batteries, lightbulbs, clothes, shoes, and more) in select US cities for $20/month, or use a nationwide mail-in bag service for hard-to-recycle plastics starting at $9/bag. Materials are routed to a vetted network of 200+ domestic recycling partners and 200+ local nonprofits, with transparent reporting of recycling outcomes.

Product overview

Ridwell is a subscription-based recycling and waste reduction service consisting of two core offerings: Ridwell Pickups (bi-weekly doorstep collection in select U.S. cities at $20/month) and Ridwell Mail-in (nationwide prepaid shipping service for hard-to-recycle plastics starting at $9/bag). The Pickups service provides a porch bin and cloth bags for over 15 recycling categories including plastic film, multi-layer plastic, batteries, lightbulbs, clothes, and shoes, with optional add-ons for large items like Styrofoam and paint. The Mail-in service offers starter kits ($30) with prepaid bags for plastic recycling. Both services connect customers with vetted recycling partners who transform materials into new products. The company also offers gift memberships and maintains a network of 200+ local nonprofit partners for the Pickups service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ridwell Pickups: A bi-weekly doorstep pickup subscription service covering over 15 recycling categories for $20/month, available in select U.S. cities including Seattle, Portland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Austin, and Atlanta.
• Ridwell Mail-in

Products and services

• Ridwell Pickups Bi-weekly doorstep pickup subscription covering 15+ hard-to-recycle household categories including plastic film, multi-layer plastic, batteries, lightbulbs, clothes, shoes, and more. Members receive a 14x14x14 porch bin and cloth bags, opt in via the member dashboard, and have materials routed to a curated network of 200+ vetted recyclers and 200+ local nonprofits. Priced from $20/month with add-on fees for oversized items such as styrofoam, latex paint, and fluorescent tubes. Available in eight US metropolitan service areas.
• Ridwell Mail-in Nationwide mail-in recycling service for hard-to-recycle plastics. Members purchase prepaid shipping bags to send plastic film and multi-layer plastic to Ridwell's recycling partners. Refill bags start at $9 per bag on a pay-as-you-go model with no recurring billing, designed for households, apartments, or areas without doorstep pickup service.
• Mail-in Recycling Starter Kit $30 entry kit for the Ridwell Mail-in service, including one prepaid plastic film bag, one prepaid multi-layer plastic bag, a fridge guide, and two clips for hanging bags. Provides everything needed to begin the mail-in recycling subscription.
• Ridwell Gift Memberships Gift purchase options that allow buyers to give Ridwell services to others, including a $30 mail-in starter kit (with shipping included) or a $20/month pickup membership for recipients in the eight Pickups service metros. Designed for sustainable, practical gifting to environmentally-minded friends and family.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% overall reuse or recycling rate across all materials
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TrexcoreOthersTrex is one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America, using more than 400 million pounds of recycled plastics—including more than 1.5 billion plastic bags each year—to make wood-alternative decking. A standard 16-foot Trex deck board contains recycled materials from approximately 2,250 plastic bags. Ridwell provides high-quality plastic film that is shredded, washed, melted into pellets, and used to create decking and other products.
• ByFusion Global InccoreOthersFounded in 2017, ByFusion converts all types of plastic waste into a high-performing building material called ByBlock, helping communities solve the global plastic waste crisis. Partner for multi-layer plastic recycling.
• Merlin PlasticscoreOthersA circular economy-focused plastic recycler servicing the U.S. and Canada. Receives Ridwell multi-layer plastic, shreds, washes, and pelletizes into post-consumer resin (PCR) for commercial and industrial products like nursery planting pots and piping.
• Hydroblox, Inc.coreOthersCreates commercial and industrial drainage solutions from 100% landfill-bound plastic. Named one of the top mechanical recycling companies in the world by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Uses no glue, binders, chemicals, or exhaust heat in manufacturing.
• CyclacoreOthersConnects rewearable clothes and shoes to a network of buyers and sellers, prioritizing US-based thrift stores then an eco-friendly global network. Founded by women who grew up in the thrift store business. Also sends Ridwell bags made from plastic film straight to Trex to become decking.
• Vespene RecyclingcoreOthersLas Vegas, Nevada-based textile recycling company specializing in brand protection and processing post-consumer mixed textiles. Converts worn-out clothing and non-reusable textiles into new products. Engages with Texas Tech Textile Circularity Institute, Cotton Incorporated, Canopy, and Fortune 100 partners.
• EcolightscoreOthersBased in Seattle, WA, founded in 1996. Focused on proper end-of-life handling of fluorescent and other light bulbs, lighting ballasts, and batteries. Mission to recycle as much of the resources in these materials as reasonably possible and prevent toxic components from environmental release.
• Critical Materials Recovery LLCcoreOthersLeading domestic battery recycling company based in Phoenix, AZ, specializing in end-of-life alkaline batteries. Uses state-of-the-art extraction equipment producing high-quality raw materials including zinc/manganese concentrate for fertilizer and ferrous/non-ferrous materials for recycled metals. Recovers up to 95% of materials from alkaline batteries.
• The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle)coreOthersNot-for-profit organization operating the country's premier battery collection, logistics, and recycling program. After 26 years and more than 140 million pounds of batteries safely recycled across the U.S., provides effective battery management of rechargeable and single-use household batteries.
• Lighting ResourcescoreOthersProcesses (de-manufactures) spent lamps of all kinds including HID, fluorescent, CFL, and incandescent lamps. Their Balcan MP8000 machine processes up to 5000 fluorescent linear lamps per hour, separating phosphor powder (containing mercury) from glass and aluminum for marketplace recycling.
• Cleanlites RecyclingcoreOthersOver 25 years helping reduce landfill contamination by properly disposing of mercury-containing bulbs and lamps. With 5 recycling centers nationwide, assists customers across the U.S. and abroad with industry-leading waste management and recycling services.
• Clean EarthcoreOthersTrusted leader in environmental and waste industry managing waste with focus on safety and compliance. Crushes and breaks down light bulbs into base recycling components (glass, metal, plastic) with hazardous materials like mercury safely removed and properly disposed.
• 200+ Local Nonprofit OrganizationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRidwell partners with 200+ organizations in communities where pickups are offered, featuring a different nonprofit every two weeks. Supports donations of winter coats, unused diapers, school supplies, pet gear, and holiday lights to local neighbors in need.
• VeoliaminorOthersIn the Vape Aware program in Boulder County, Colorado, Veolia handles incineration of accumulated hazardous e-cigarette waste. Ridwell provides monthly pickups of vape devices as part of the collection program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TerraCycle: TerraCycle operates national and international programs for hard-to-recycle household waste streams (plastic film, batteries, light bulbs, textiles) via brand-sponsored and consumer-paid take-back — directly competing with Ridwell on the same consumer problem and recycling categories.
• 1-800-GOT-JUNK: National doorstep junk removal and hauling franchise operating residential pickup routes across North America. Comparable to Ridwell's bi-weekly doorstep collection model, though focused on bulk junk rather than category-specific recycling.
• LoadUp: On-demand residential junk removal with eco-friendly disposal emphasis (donation and recycling partnerships). Directly comparable service model and target customer to Ridwell Pickups, with similar eco-positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: One of the largest US residential and commercial waste haulers. Operates curbside MSW and recycling collection that Ridwell effectively complements or competes with in its 8 metros.
• Waste Management: Largest North American waste and recycling hauler with residential curbside programs. Represents the incumbent municipal-style service that Ridwell's subscription model augments with hard-to-recycle categories.
• Recology: Employee-owned West Coast hauler operating residential and commercial recycling, composting, and waste collection in markets overlapping Ridwell's footprint (Seattle, Portland, Bay Area).

Emerging players

• Sustainable America: Nonprofit and impact-focused organization working on recycling and food waste reduction. Comparable eco-mission focus and consumer audience to Ridwell, though operating as advocacy rather than a paid pickup service.
• Batteries Plus: Retail chain providing consumer battery, light bulb, and small electronics recycling drop-off across the US. Overlaps with Ridwell on battery and bulb categories but uses retail drop-off rather than doorstep subscription.
• Patagonia Worn Wear: Brand-operated clothing and textile take-back/reuse program. Competes with Ridwell's clothes/textile recycling category via brand-funded take-back, with comparable end-market reuse outcomes.

Others

• The Recycling Partnership: Nonprofit improving US residential recycling through grants and public-private programs. Adjacent to Ridwell in mission and ecosystem — both focus on improving consumer recycling outcomes — but operates through municipalities rather than direct subscriptions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/getridwell
• Instagraminstagram.com/getridwell
• Xx.com/getridwell
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ridwell

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ridwell