Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Hickman.
Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m nine years old now, but I started recycling when I was just three years old. My dad took me to the recycling center near our house, and I just loved recycling all the cans and bottles. I just wanted to recycle as much as possible. I asked all of my neighbors to start saving their cans and bottles instead of throwing them out, and things took off from there. Over the last six years, I’ve recycled a lot. Almost half a million cans and bottles.
My story went viral about two years ago, and my dad tells me I have around 200 million social media video views. I’ve been part of some really cool things like I’ve been on the Ellen Show, I’ve spoken at WE DAY, and I’m a CNN Young Wonder. Last year, my friend Wyland and the Wyland Foundation gave me an Ambassador of the Planet Medal. I have it on my wall in my bedroom.
I’ve traveled around the country to different cities to teach people how to be better recyclers with Valet Living and this year, I’ve partnered with Recycle Across America, and we’re going to show the world how to recycle right. I’m also a youth ambassador for Busch Systems and Sand Cloud.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hmmm… I guess my recycling journey has been pretty smooth. There’s always the need to recycle to make our environment better though. I do get frustrated when I see so many recyclable items that go to the landfill, but part of what I do is help teach people how easy it is to recycle so I’m making a difference one can and bottle at a time.
I wish every state paid a deposit on cans and bottles like California does because then recycling would be even bigger than it is now and the environment would be in better shape.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Ryan’s Recycling story. Tell us more about the business.
Ryan’s Recycling is a pickup service for anyone who wants to recycle with me. I pick up from peoples houses, businesses, golf courses, schools, churches and really anyone who calls for a pickup. My dad is my driver, and he lifts the heavy stuff, and my mom helps me sort the cans and bottles sometimes before we take it to rePlanet.
Mostly, I recycle plastic water bottles, but I also recycle glass and aluminum cans. We travel as far away as 20 or 25 miles in any direction from our house to pick up from my customers, and my dad and I go on the weekends. Everyone calls and sets a pickup time with him during the week when I’m in school.
I’m pretty proud that I’ve been an inspiration to other people all around the world that recycle now because they heard about what I do. My dad goes thru all the emails and reads them to me, and it’s pretty cool to hear from all the countries that are excited about recycling. I also speak at many events around the country, and I even got to go to Canada last year and speak to over 20,000 kids about recycling.
This year is going to be even busier since I’m working with more organizations to help clean up the planet. I sell my Ryan’s Recycling shirts and hats on my web site and donate the money to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. I think I’ve donated about $8500 so far. That helps them with saving sick and injured seals and sea lions. I’m proud to be one of their youth ambassadors.
I’m going to keep recycling until I’m an old man and can’t do it anymore. I always tell everyone that recycling is super easy and if all of us do just a little bit, it makes a really big difference.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve been pretty lucky to have my story go viral and to be able to inspire people around the world makes me happy. There are many kids that are doing really amazing things, and they don’t all get the same chances for the world to notice them. I would tell them to keep following their passion and keep at whatever they do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ryansrecycling.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryans_recycling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryansrecycling/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryans_recycling
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/RyanHickmanRecycling
Image Credit:
Neil Tolbert, Allison Jarrell, Damion Hickman
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
