multilayer plastic waste generated during their manufacturing process to HydroBlox. “It helps both Ridwell and Bob’s clear out their warehouses faster and make for efficient loads,” writes a Ridwell representative in an email. The company would also like to move to an all-electric fleet according to Loewen, but has no timeline set for that upgrade. AS A GROWING STARTUP, RIDWELL is not profitable but is “working as hard as we can to become self-sustaining,” according to a Ridwell representative via email. That profit must come directly from Ridwell subscribers as opposed to the partners that accept the waste. “For most of the materials we collect, there is no exchange of funds,” according to the representative. “We do make a small amount of income on some items, and in some cases, we pay partners to pass on the stuff we pick up from members.” That makes growing its subscriber base an important part of its business strategy. Most of Ridwell’s current customers are female, age 35 and up, living in single-family homes and have an extra $14 to $24 a month for the service. This fee naturally limits the pool of potential customers. “Considering what residents already pay for standard curbside pickup, this is an unattainable cost for many low-income individuals and families,” says Terryll. (Ridwell offers a Community Supported Membership program and asks cities to subsidize membership. As of April 2024, 215 free memberships have been awarded throughout all of its markets.) Local municipalities also stand in the way of expansion. In 2022 Ridwell sued Washington County after the government agency banned pick-ups in unincorporated areas; litigation is ongoing. “It’s due to resistance from garbage haulers that want to protect the status quo,” says Loewen. “Many jurisdictions have been pressured by haulers rather than welcoming a new and innovative approach.” Washington County does not comment on ongoing legal cases. But shortly after stopping the service, they launched Recycle+, a similar albeit far less expensive specialty-recycling service. Run by local garbage haulers, Recycle+ costs between $2.50 and $2.70 a month, plus an on-call pick-up charge of under $10. “Recycle+ is an attractive service for people who are willing to pay for the convenience of having certain items picked up versus taking them for free to a depot,” says Wendy Gordon, communications coordinator for Washington County Health and Human Services, via email. “It’s also going to be attractive to people who care deeply about recycling and who want to go above and beyond what goes in the regular bin.” Ridwell would love to add the 1,350 customers currently enrolled in Recycle+ to its subscription base. However, the company has no interest in expanding outside the Portland metro area. That leaves motivated recyclers living along the I-5 corridor, on the coast, in Bend or anywhere else in the state on their own when it comes to disposing of hard-to-recycle waste. At least for now. The recently passed Recycling Modernization Act should make it easier for everyone in Oregon to deal with unwanted waste. Currently in the rule- making phase, the law will increase access to collection of plastic bags and film, plastic clamshells, and more either through depots or expanded curbside pick-up. More exciting, consumers may not have to foot the bill. “Extended producer responsibility is a big goal of the Recycling Modernization Act, and this will hopefully 24
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