Support Us Button Widget
Sponsored Content

Meet the Austin mom focused on sustainable recycling

Nora Pirsch, a new mom, shares her routine for sustainable recycling that you should consider implementing in your household this year.

Sponsored by
a man, woman, and baby sit behind a white box

Don’t worry about your waste — sustainably reuse and recycle your stuff with Ridwell.

Photo provided by Ridwell

Table of Contents

Nora Pirsch, a new mom in Central Austin, is on a mission to lead a sustainable lifestyle and instill eco-friendly values in her daughter. As we step into 2024, Nora is sharing her top sustainability tip in hopes of paving the path for a greener year for our community.

Nora and her partner prioritize reducing plastic in daily routines, opting for eco-conscious choices like bar soap and shampoo, and repurposing containers for cleaning products. Despite efforts, single-use plastics are hard to avoid. As someone who appreciates a good snack, Nora wasn’t ready to give up plastic-packaged chips.

Determined to bridge the recycling gap, Nora discovered Ridwell, a Seattle-based recycling start-up that originated as a father-son project with CEO Ryan Metzger and his son, Owen, trying to recycle batteries.

Today, Ridwell is integral to Nora’s family routine, offering doorstep pickup services for items like plastic film and multi-layer plastics (chip bags, snack wrappers) not recycled by regular curbside programs. Bonus: It also saves Nora’s household a trip to Austin’s Reuse and Recycle Center.

a woman puts a bag into a white box

Ridwell makes recycling so easy that you don’t even have to take your bin to the curb — they’ll pick it up at your front door.

Photo provided by Ridwell

Ridwell’s collection extends beyond plastics, including batteries, light bulbs, clothes, and more. The company partners with 200+ local and regional businesses, like Austin Creative Reuse, ensuring responsible reuse or recycling of collected items. Another way Ridwell keeps plastic out of landfills is through its partnership with HydroBlox — a company that repurposes multi-layer plastic into construction materials.

Nora knows her small actions are making a difference and encourages the community to embrace this solution to send less waste to landfills.

For an effortless way to be more sustainable in 2024 and promote recycling in Austin, become a Ridwell member. Austinites can join for as little as $14 a month, significantly reducing household waste. Pro tip: Join Ridwell in January and get your first month free.

Start your sustainable journey.

Poll

Which items would you like Ridwell to recycle for you? We’re curious.

More from ATXtoday
The robots are driving in ATX. Keep your eyes peeled for these companies, which are driving or getting ready to deploy driverless vehicles in town.
We’re dreaming of a green Christmas.
Hi, Austinite. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
Whether you’re planning a family gathering, a corporate party, or a festive get-together with friends, here are a few restaurants offering spaces for your celebration.
Plus, the music lineup for the annual tradition is here, featuring artists like Chief Cleopatra and Como Las Movies.
Whether you don’t want to bother with cooking or you want to treat the family to a delicious meal out, here are a few restaurants to try.
The Texas grocer’s oldest location in Austin is now a shiny, new gem in the Violet Crown.
Plan your winter with festivals and holiday-themed events happening in the Capital City.
The beloved local tradition has taken multiple different forms over the years, and was once called “Yule Fest.”
From festive rooftops to movie-inspired spaces, we’re breaking down the best holiday pop-up bars spreading cheer in the 512.