Teen Sees Local Need, Turns into Business

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A Metro teen saw a need for a recycling program and turned it into a business.

Max Federman, the creator of Round Trip Recycling, wouldn't exactly call himself a green guru. He said he's just a kid who recognized a need in his Nichols Hills neighborhood.

"It kind of started out as a chore. I did around my house, and then I saw the opportunity to make it into a small business," Federman said. "I recycle plastics 1 and 2, glass, newspaper, mixed paper, aluminum, and that's it.

At each stop, he picks up bins full of pre-sorted recyclables. Federman said he found that convenience for the customer was the key.

"It was just wonderful that Max decided to take up this, uh, small business and help the neighborhood and help the environment," said customer Jeff Trachtenberg.

Many of his neighbors didn't recycle anything before Round Trip Recycling was in town, but now each bin is making a difference.

"So much gets wasted. When people start recycling, they tell me the amount of garbage they put out gets cut in half," Federman said.

Max picks up the recycling on Wednesday mornings and said he hopes to continue through at least part of the school year.