“IT’S A DIRTY JOB, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT.” — VA N I S BUCKHOLZ
VANIS BUCKHOLZ
CREATOR OF MY RECYCLER AGE: 14
The earth is a beautiful place, but unfortunately, not many are committed to preserving its beauty. Meet Vanis Buckholz, the creator of My ReCycler, which aims to clean up streets, beaches, parks and much more by picking up trash and recycling it. In his seventh year of business, Vanis has collected over 75,000 pounds of trash and has joined the Project Hope Alliance, a charity that helps homeless children in Orange County. With his involvement, he has not only helped the environment, but also the people who call the earth their home. Seeing someone so young take care of the environment is truly inspiring, and as Vanis says, “It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.” 140 LOCALE MAGAZINE
Q: What inspired you to get into recycling? Vanis Buckholz: It was for an Earth Day project in elementary school. I picked recycling because it seemed like a smart thing to do. Once I started, I thought we should keep doing it. When I realized we could make money doing it, we started the business. My grandpa always told me to start a business, so I did. Q: How did you come up with the name “My ReCycler?” VB: I started my business on my scooter and then on my bike; that’s how I got to all my customers. The name matches what I actually do: I recycle and I ride my bike. Q: Were there ever times of struggle? How did you push forward? VB: Yes, because it grew so fast, it was
hard to keep everything organized. I just focused on what I had to do. I took care of my commitments and stayed organized. Q: What plans do you have for your business in the future? VB: I want to grow it as big as I can and add other services. I’d like to get my own recycling yard and hire others to join it. Q: How does it feel to be considered one of Orange County’s most influential “Game Changers?” VB: Wow! It’s shocking. I’ve been doing this for half of my life, so it’s nothing unusual. It’s still really cool. Q: What is one of your biggest achievements while in business? VB: That would probably be helping other kids.