yard work file photo
After Wyckoff ends its grass pickups, teen entrepreneurs seize opportunity
Monday, July 8, 2013
BY EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
WYCKOFF — Despite the bleakest prospects in decades for teens looking for summer work, two Ramapo High School students are proving there’s still room for young entrepreneurs with a vision and motivation.
Classmates John Douma of Wyckoff and Alex Abolt of Franklin Lakes were hoping to find their first summer jobs in between their junior and senior years, but dreading the prospect of punching up orders in a fast-food restaurant.
So when the town decided in April to discontinue curbside pickup of grass clippings — requiring residents to transport the yard waste themselves to the recycling center — the two saw an opportunity for a start-up and went for it.
Today, they have a fleet consisting of one Ford F-150 pickup and seven customers, who each pay $50 a month to have up to four garbage cans full of grass clippings hauled off.
This is why Wyckoff is still a great town.