Ryan the 7-year-old Eco Entrepreneur

Ryan Hickman from Orange County, the United States, is not your average eco entrepreneur. For starters, the seven-year-old founded - and became the CEO of - his own recycling company, Ryan’s Recycling Company, aged just three years old. His road to eco entrepreneurship and philosophy are straightforward: he likes “sorting the cans and bottles” and the idea of “getting paid to help the earth”. 

With the help of his father, Damion, and mother, Andrea, Ryan set up Ryan’s Recycling Company in 2012, and has been the CEO of a sustainable green business since. Four years on, Ryan’s business is as strong as his determination to help the earth, with approximately 49,000 pounds of waste recycled for 40 customers spanning over five neighbourhoods. With the revenue, Ryan has been able to save up around USD10,000 for his college tuition, with USD1,600 donated to charity - so successful and in multiple ways sustainable is Ryan’s Recycling Company that it puts many of us grown-ups to shame. 

We had a quick chat with Ryan, whose current long-term goal is to buy a real garbage truck and continue recycling through his adulthood, and his supportive father Damion, also the graphic designer behind Ryan’s Recycling Company’s website, business cards and flyers. 

1. Why did it occur to you to found a recycling company on that fateful day when you went to a local recycling centre with your parents in 2012? 

I don’t remember why since I was only 3 but I really like sorting the cans and bottles and getting paid to help the earth.

2. What were your exact wordings when you said you wanted to become the owner of a recycling company?
(Dad answers this one) Ryan said he wanted to start collecting recyclables from all the neighbors because he figured every hour could save cans and bottles for him.

3. Tell us a bit about the division of labour within Ryan's Recycling Company?
My mom, dad and I do all the recycling. Oh, and my grandma too. My dad drives me to the recycling center and my mom helps too. My dad lifts all the heavy stuff in and out of the truck.

4. What was the neighbours' response when you handed out plastic bags for them to save their recyclables for you?
Most of our neighbors save cans and bottles for us and they are so happy to save them for me.

5. How do you juggle your job as CEO and school?
I recycle a little bit at school too and I like to think about recycling even when I’m at school but I get my homework done and like hanging out at school with my friends.

6. What are the future plans for Ryan's Recycling Company?
I want to buy a real garbage truck some day and I want to continue recycling until I’m an adult.

7. Your advice for anyone who might want to start their own recycling company?
It’s hard work but it’s worth it. My mom says it’s important to wash my hands after recycling. Anyone can recycle and it’s good for the environment.

8. What's the best thing about being Ryan Hickman right now?
I’m happy to be cleaning up the world and it’s pretty cool that all people checking out my story are interested in my recycling.

http://ryansrecycling.com/ 

Have an Eco-conscious Christmas

No, it doesn’t feel like winter at all, and it is really quite a bummer for those of us who aren’t used to spending Christmas like our counterparts in the Southern Hemisphere do. But who can we blame but ourselves, for the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming?

It’s not too late – we hope – to go green, especially during festivities like Christmas, when we tend to consume more than we normally do. Here are a few tips on an eco-conscious Christmas.

1. The Tree: We still remember the excitement of putting up the tree and decorating it with all things imaginable when we were young. But disposing of the tree is always a problem. If you’re going for real trees, know that Hong Kong Environmental Protection Association runs a collection programme where unwanted Christmas trees are taken to a recycling centre in Tuen Mun, and turned into organic fertiliser used to promote green projects at schools.

2. Gifting: You’ve probably realised that the older you grow, the things that you want for Christmas tend not to be things that money can buy. For many of us, in fact, a hearty home-cooked dinner with family and friends is a gift in itself. But if you must buy a gift, make it a meaningful purchase – buy from fair trade, ethical and environmentally responsible producers, or better still, sponsor an endangered animal or a sustainable programme.

3. Wrapping: I don’t know many people who would actually keep the wrappers, except artists who repurpose the wrappers, so if you must wrap your gifts, use recycled paper or newspaper.

4.  The feast: Naturally, you would want to spoil your loved ones at the dining table, but make sure you buy only what you can consume, and nothing goes to waste. There are umpteen ways to recycle the remnants of your Christmas feast, all it takes is a little creativity! Also, source locally to minimise your carbon footprint. While you’re at it, make sure the utensils and plates are reusable or biodegradable.