This 7-Yr-Old Californian Boy Runs His Own Recycling Company, Earned $21,000 In Four Years and saves for college. A 7-year-old boy in Orange County, California has quite literally turned trash into treasure: Ryan Hickman launched his own recycling business and is saving his earnings for college.
How It All Started For Ryan
$626 – MY NEW RECORD!!!! Thank you to El Niguel Country Club and all of my customers! This is from the last two weekends. 3 truckloads. My dad is tired. pic.twitter.com/YmdMK0kHJs
— Ryan Hickman (@ryans_recycling) May 28, 2018
When he was 3½ years old, Ryan Hickman visited the rePlanet recycling center in California and found his life’s mission. The next day, at their San Juan Capistrano driveway, he pointed down the street and made an announcement.
“My new business! I’m going to pick up all the cans and bottles from everyone in the neighborhood.”
Today, at the ripe old age of 7, he is the CEO, manager, and employee of Ryan’s Recycling Company. He has 50 customers and over 200,000 bottles and cans in his recycling credit. Though Ryan says he doesn’t remember what made it all start (It was over half his life ago!) he remains passionate about the reason. “It’s because bottles get to the ocean and then animals get sick and die,” he says.
Beach cleanup today at Doheny Beach. See what the mystery item(s) were that we found at https://t.co/eYydLh8QSn
#ryansrecycling Have a good Memorial Day! pic.twitter.com/gjehWyXCtn— Ryan Hickman (@ryans_recycling) May 26, 2018
According to Damion Hickman (father), Ryan has saved over $11,000, which was matched by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” last January. The money is going toward a college account, though Ryan says he wants to buy a full-size trash truck and eventually become a garbage man. In a joint interview with CNN, his father says they’ve designated it for college for the time being and by 18 Ryan can make the decision himself. “Yeah, but I want to buy a truck,” Ryan insists.
A Win-Win Situation
@roadlifetv and @macktrucks making @ryans_recycling dreams come true. One trash truck at a time. #roadlife https://t.co/lwudu6ugll pic.twitter.com/CW7KW1xPx8
— Chris Zona (@chriszona) May 11, 2018
His efforts have also led him to become the Youth Ambassador of Pacific Marine Mammal Centre- an organization that works towards rehabilitating and rescuing marine animals. Pacific Marine Mammal Centre is one of Ryan’s favorite places. He donates all his brand’s T-shirt to it. Ryan has donated over $3,700 so far. “I like to go there and look at sea lions, and the money that we donate to them gives them medicine and food,” he says.
The boss man @ryans_recycling is home from school and ready to collect some recycling this afternoon! #roadlife https://t.co/TSTT2dQZku pic.twitter.com/wEkvoboRtY
— Neil Tolbert (@NeilTolbert) May 11, 2018
“Ryan is “very passionate” about recycling, “and he likes to get everybody else passionate about it as well,” says Ryan’s mother, Andrea. “I think he’s rubbed off on all of us now. You find yourself walking past a can on the ground and needing to pick it up instead of walking away and leaving it there,” she added.
Filming today at @PacificMMC with my friend @krysguchi for @MackTrucks #roadlife #ryansrecycling pic.twitter.com/A9SkfzQxKA
— Ryan Hickman (@ryans_recycling) May 11, 2018
For Ryan, recycling is a win-win situation: It helps the environment, plus you can earn some extra cash, he says. In addition, It’s hard to argue with that kind of logic. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments below. Also, check out this Indian Railway’s recycling machine which gives 5rs E-Wallet cashback when you deposit a plastic bottle.
