An autograph from recycling entrepreneur Ryan Hickman just got even cooler. Not only has the young recycler raised thousands of dollars for charity and recycled almost 300,000 cans and bottles, but he’s also recently mastered cursive.

Eight-year-old Ryan of California has been recycling cans and bottles with his dad for almost five years. This year, he’s issued a challenge to anyone who will join him to recycle 300,000 cans and bottles before May 1. The initiative is the product of years of work, but it started on a much smaller scale.

“Initially, it was just he and I going to our local recycling facility with just two small kitchen bags of plastic water bottles that we had used at the house,” says Ryan’s dad, Damion Hickman. The experience, unassuming as it was, was enough to get Ryan hooked, and the business was born.

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Super cool event this morning at Aliso Beach. Ryan got to release his favorite seal (Heartbreaker). She is a Northern Fur Seal that was being rehabilitated by the crew at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Ryan’s donations make events like this possible. Learn how you can help by visiting www.beadoer.io/ryan or at www.ryansrecycling.com. See all the action here: https://www.diversityinsteam.com/2018/01/08/student-recycles-save-money-college/

Thank you to Ripplezoo.com out of Dublin, Ireland for making Ryan your hero of the week!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BenuMvWg0Th/

Ryan was a guest on the Pickler & Ben show. Thank you Kellie and Ben – he had a great time in Nashville. See his appearance here: https://www.facebook.com/PicklerandBen/videos/1468064683310299/

Ryan’s dad, Damion wrote a guest blog article about Ryan on The Kind Life site. Check it out here: http://thekindlife.com/blog/2018/01/guest-blog-ryan-an-8-year-old-recycling-enthusiast/

Thank you Mental Floss for including Ryan in your story about kids making a difference!

http://mentalfloss.com/article/521444/amazing-kids-who-are-making-world-better-place

Thank you to Diversity in Steam magazine for your December 2017 story on Ryan. https://www.diversityinsteam.com/2018/01/08/student-recycles-save-money-college/

Ryan was invited to attend the 2017 CNN Heroes Tribute show in NYC on Dec 17th! He made a bunch of new friends and got to check out New York City for a few days. It was an awesome trip and the chance to meet so many inspirational people was amazing. We’ll never forget this trip. Thank you to everyone who sent all the nice emails to Ryan about his show appearance and thank you to the producers at CNN who made this happen for Ryan.

Ryan’s story is shown here: http://www.cnn.com/videos/living/2017/12/15/cnnheroes-hickman-young-wonder-orig.cnn

Ryan’s live appearance in NYC shown here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/young-wonder-ryan-hickman/vp-BBH5Dnt

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 17: Anderson Cooper (L) and 2017 CNN Young Wonder Ryan Hickman pose during CNN Heroes 2017 at the American Museum of Natural History on December 17, 2017 in New York City. 27437_015 (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CNN)

Ryan named as one of Orange County’s Most Influential People of 2017! Thank you to the Orange County Register for recognizing Ryan on your list of these amazing people in our community. Ryan is honored to be part of the list.

https://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/22/most-influential-2017-meet-the-100-top-influencers-in-orange-county/

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We’re so excited that Ryan was chosen to be recognized as a Young Wonder for his recycling efforts. Check out the web site: http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/us/cnn-heroes-2017-young-wonders/index.html