About Ryan’s Recycling


Accolades:
2016 DAR Certificate of Recognition
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2017 Festival of Children “FRED” Award
2017 Kidsareheroes.org Lily’s Hero’s Award
2017 City of San Juan Capistrano Certificate of Recognition
2017 DAR Community Service Award
2017 Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s “Philanthropist of the Year”
2017 CNN Young Wonder Award
2017 OC Register’s 100 Most Influential People
2017 San Juan Capistrano “Citizen of the Year”
2017 DAR Certificate of Recognition
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2018 MSN’s Top 15 Kids Changing the World List
2018 Recycling Champion Award – OC Waste & Recycling
2018 County of Orange Certificate of Recognition
2018 Wyland Foundation’s Ambassador For The Planet Award
2018 Action For Nature ECO-HERO Award
2018 Barron Prize Young Hero Honoree
2018 Paradigm Challenge 2nd Place Award
2018 IBWA Recycling Champion Award
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2019 Sand Cloud Ambassador of the Year
2019 OCBJ Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards nominee
2019 DAR Certificate of Recognition
2019 Aquarium of the Pacific Young Hero Award
2019 Northeast Resource Recycling Assoc. Special Recognition Award
2019 Kidbox Kid Board of Directors
2019 Irvine Chamber Future Leader Award
2019 Certificate of Congressional Recognition
2019 Good Housekeeping’s 40 Kids Who Changed the World List
2019 MSN’s Youngsters Who Are Changing the World List
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2020 Reader’s Digest Top Kids of the Decade Changing the World List
2020 Daily Points of Light Award
2020 Diversity in Action 20 Under 20 Young Innovators List
2020 WasteExpo 40 Under 40 Changemaker Award
2020 Good Housekeeping’s 40 Kids Who Changed the World List
2020 TIME Magazine Kid of the Year Nominee
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2021 Mares Foundation Excellence Award
2021 The Russian Geographical Society Crystal Compass Award
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2022 The Global Child Prodigy Award
2022 Anaheim Ducks Community Hero Award
2022 Southern California 49th District Constituent of the Month
2022 DAR Certificate of Recognition
2022 Project3R California Non Profit of the Year
2022 Shane McConkey EcoChallenge First Place Award
2022 Cox Conserves Heroes Planet Protector Award – Second Place
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2023 Future Minds 25 Under 25 List
2023 City of Irvine Certificate of Recognition
2023 KRYA Kids Conference Certificate of Recognition
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2024 Global Young Entrepreneur Society 25 Under 25 List
2024 SAR Certificate of Recognition

In 2012 at the age of 3, Ryan went along with his dad to the local recycling center and cashed in a few small bags of cans and bottles and decided that recycling was in his future. The day after going to the recycling center, Ryan notified his mom and dad that he wanted to give empty plastic bags to all the neighbors and maybe they would save their recyclables for him. Not only did the local neighbors save their cans and bottles for Ryan but so did their friends, families and co-workers. Today, Ryan has customers all over Orange County, CA and he has a passion to recycle that is amazing. His goal is to recycle to keep cans and bottles from reaching the ocean where it’s harmful to the environment. Ryan spends a part of every week sorting thru cans and bottles from his customers and getting them ready to take to the recycle center.

In 2016, Ryan’s recycling story went viral and ever since he has been featured on web sites, television and radio stations around the planet. He’s a 2017 CNN Young Wonder, he’s appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show, The Pickler & Ben show, Little Big Shots and was interviewed by Maria Menunous on Sirius/XM Radio as well as Ryan Seacrest’s syndicated radio program. He’s a multiple time WE DAY speaker and has been featured on NBC, CNN, CNBC, PBS, FOX News, Amazon Prime’s SELF MADE series, Australia’s Channel 7 Sunrise morning show, Huffington Post, Voice of America, David Wolfe, AJ+, UpWorthy, NOW THIS!, AOL Mini-Moguls, 60 Second Docs, ATTN:, KBS, USA Today, Univision, Good Morning America, The TODAY SHOW, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and ABC World News. Ryan has been recognized internationally for his recycling efforts and Ryan was awarded the “2017 Citizen of the Year” by his hometown of San Juan Capistrano and he was recognized by the Orange County Register as one of the 100 most influential people of 2017. Ryan was selected in 2018 by MSN in their top 15 kids changing the world, Good Housekeeping in 2019 and 2020 for their list of 40 kids who have changed the world, Reader’s Digest 2020 List of Kids of the Decade Changing the World and was featured in TIME Magazine for Kids and National Geographic as well as being featured as a WHIZ KID in OC Family Magazine. In 2020, Ryan was nominated and was one of the top finalists for TIME Magazine’s KID OF THE YEAR Award. In 2021, Ryan partnered with OLD NAVY and was featured by H&M for his eco efforts globally. In 2021, Ryan founded his nonprofit org, Project3R and also is a founding partner in Recycle From Home.

Thank you to everyone who have sent Ryan inspiring emails and supporting his passion. Ryan is hoping to raise as much awareness to saving the planet through recycling and saving for his future college education (or saving for a full size trash truck) and he is a Youth Ambassador at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. All proceeds from his company logo t-shirts go to help support their volunteer efforts. Ryan is also a proud brand ambassador for Recycle From Home, and Acasta.

People ask all the time what kind of items that Ryan recycles. Ryan collects and recycles plastic and glass beverage bottles as well as aluminum cans. Ryan and his dad take them in by the truckload regularly to the local redemption center where they are unloaded, sorted and weighed. If you’d like to help Ryan and help the environment at the same time, contact him here to schedule a pick up. 

Apart from his recycling efforts, Ryan actively engages in environmental education and outreach. He gives presentations at schools, events, and conferences to inspire others to take action and make a positive impact on the environment. Ryan’s story serves as a powerful reminder that even one person, regardless of age, can make a significant difference in the world.

Ryan Hickman continues to be an inspiring role model for people of all ages, demonstrating the importance of taking personal responsibility for the environment and inspiring others to join the cause. His passion, dedication, and enthusiasm serve as a testament to the potential we all have to create positive change in the world around us. Thank you to all of Ryan’s friends around the world, his customers and family who have supported his ambitions and hard work recycling.

Accolades:
2016 DAR Certificate of Recognition
—————————————————————————————-
2017 Festival of Children “FRED” Award
2017 Kidsareheroes.org Lily’s Hero’s Award
2017 City of San Juan Capistrano Certificate of Recognition
2017 DAR Community Service Award
2017 Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s “Philanthropist of the Year”
2017 CNN Young Wonder Award
2017 OC Register’s 100 Most Influential People
2017 San Juan Capistrano “Citizen of the Year”
2017 DAR Certificate of Recognition
—————————————————————————————-
2018 MSN’s Top 15 Kids Changing the World List
2018 Recycling Champion Award – OC Waste & Recycling
2018 County of Orange Certificate of Recognition
2018 Wyland Foundation’s Ambassador For The Planet Award
2018 Action For Nature ECO-HERO Award
2018 Barron Prize Young Hero Honoree
2018 Paradigm Challenge 2nd Place Award
2018 IBWA Recycling Champion Award
—————————————————————————————-
2019 Sand Cloud Ambassador of the Year
2019 OCBJ Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards nominee
2019 DAR Certificate of Recognition
2019 Aquarium of the Pacific Young Hero Award
2019 Northeast Resource Recycling Assoc. Special Recognition Award
2019 Kidbox Kid Board of Directors
2019 Irvine Chamber Future Leader Award
2019 Certificate of Congressional Recognition
2019 Good Housekeeping’s 40 Kids Who Changed the World List
2019 MSN’s Youngsters Who Are Changing the World List
—————————————————————————————-
2020 Reader’s Digest Top Kids of the Decade Changing the World List
2020 Daily Points of Light Award
2020 Diversity in Action 20 Under 20 Young Innovators List
2020 WasteExpo 40 Under 40 Changemaker Award
2020 Good Housekeeping’s 40 Kids Who Changed the World List
2020 TIME Magazine Kid of the Year Nominee
—————————————————————————————-
2021 Mares Foundation Excellence Award
2021 The Russian Geographical Society Crystal Compass Award
—————————————————————————————-
2022 The Global Child Prodigy Award
2022 Anaheim Ducks Community Hero Award
2022 Southern California 49th District Constituent of the Month
2022 DAR Certificate of Recognition
2022 Project3R California Non Profit of the Year
2022 Shane McConkey EcoChallenge First Place Award
2022 Cox Conserves Heroes Planet Protector Award – Second Place
—————————————————————————————-
2023 Future Minds 25 Under 25 List
2023 City of Irvine Certificate of Recognition
2023 KRYA Kids Conference Certificate of Recognition
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2024 Global Young Entrepreneur Society 25 Under 25 List
2024 SAR Certificate of Recognition