Max Edwards was eight years old and living in Nanaimo when he first came up with the idea of starting a recycling business, but he had to wait a few years before he could put that idea to work.
"When I was living in Nanaimo I noticed people had recycling businesses going, but I didn’t know if I could start then. My sister started babysitting recently and is making lots of money, so I decided to give it a try," said Edwards, who is now 11 and a Grade 7 student at Alta Lake School.
Edwards was encouraged along the way by neighbour Alan Crawford, a co-owner of Canadian Snowmobile Adventures. Crawford started his own landscaping business when he was Max’s age, and within a year he had his first employees.
Recycling to the Max already has three clients in Edwards’s neighbourhood of Emerald Estates, including Crawford, but will pick up recycling anywhere in town.
Max has enlisted the aid of his mother Lori, who will drive Max to his pickups on Friday and Sunday of every week. Max will pay for the gas, and has agreed to save and share some of his earnings.
"We’re on a bit of a fixed income, so this will help Max to pay for some of his recreational activities and the things he wants, but he will also put some of the money away and give some of the money to his school," said Lori.
Max has already figured out how to divide his earnings.
"A portion will go to my school, which is a non-profit, a portion goes to my savings, a portion goes to spending and a portion will go to my activities… like break dancing, biking and baseball."
Recyling to the Max charges its clients a monthly fee based on the number of pickups, and will pick up recycling on a weekly basis if needed. One-time pick-ups are also available, as well as commercial pickups – all commercial recycling money will go towards his school. In addition to the fees, Max also keeps any money raised from deposit items like cans and bottles.
For more information or to arrange a pickup, contact Recycling to the Max at 604-902-3203.
