Sustainable Brands I Love: Ridwell
Is Ridwell worth it? Here’s why I’ve used it for years—and what actually happens to everything they collect.
If you’ve followed The Mindful Edit for any amount of time, you know I’m a little obsessed with figuring out what to do with the things that can’t go into our regular recycling bin.
Plastic film. Chip bags. Batteries. Old textiles. Random packaging that makes you stare at the recycling symbol and think, okay…but are you actually recyclable? 🤔
That’s why I’ve been a Ridwell fan for years.
A Visit to the Local Landfill
When you throw something “away,” where do you think it goes? Or do you even think about it once it makes its way into your trash bag?
I had the chance to visit the local landfill and ReSource Center here in Santa Barbara County last week — my second visit in two years — and I was just as mind blown as the first time.
Being there generated so many new questions and a huge amount of respect for the people who work there every day. Let’s just say… it’s aromatic.
Standing on top of what is essentially a mountain of trash is a very different experience than tossing something into your kitchen garbage can.
It makes one thing crystal clear: there is no such thing as “away.”
What Travel Teaches Us About Waste, Access, and Awareness
Travel has a way of widening your lens. ✈️
Last week, I spent a few days in Cozumel, Mexico with my mom. It was one a trip filled with sunshine, vibrant colors, and the kind of lush vegetation that reminds you how alive the planet really is. 🌱 And yet, alongside all that beauty, there was something else I couldn’t stop noticing:
Trash. Everywhere.
As someone who cares deeply about the environment, this was hard on my heart. My instinct was to grab a bag and start picking it up, but the reality was sobering: I could have spent the entire trip collecting garbage and barely made a dent. 🗑️