Recycling startup Ridwell to launch in San Francisco

• The service has helped divert over 14 million pounds from landfill, according to Metzger.

How it works: Subscribers leave hard-to-recycle items — including light bulbs, clothes, plastic film and multi-layer plastic (think Amazon shipping bags or chip bags) — in bins and bags on their doorsteps.

• Ridwell drivers then take them to specialty recyclers or donate them to vetted local partners.
• Subscription packages range from $14-$24 per month depending on what you want picked up.

How it happened: The idea for Ridwell started in 2018 when Metzger and his son began finding things that wouldn't be accepted in traditional recycling and dropping them off with local partners.

• Ridwell now operates in dozens of cities, including Portland, Ore., Denver and Austin.