The more that 12-year-old Tadeo Figueroa learns about environmental issues, the more action he takes. ​

Learning about the environmental effects of pollution and plastic piled high in landfills in elementary school inspired Tadeo to take small actions at home. He recycles, reuses plastic and paper packaging, and helps his family with their sustainable plant and vegetable garden.​

Then Tadeo discovered a sobering fact released by the World Economic Forum: by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. ​

Not on Tadeo’s watch. He took his environmentalism to the next level.​

“I want a healthier, better world for all of us to live in—no climate change, no animal endangerment, no pollution in the ocean,” he says. His next move? Bring his passion for the environment to the student council at Aptakisic Junior High School. ​

With his peers on board, Tadeo and the student council implemented a new initiative in the school’s the cafeteria to reduce waste—a comprehensive recycling and composting program. ​

“Recycling was a no brainer – anything paper, plastic in the recycling bin,” Tadeo says. In their research, they realized waste reduction was a more complicated process. ​

With help from Aptakisic Junior High School’s existing waste reduction program and Mindful Ways—an organization that supports individuals, families and communities to build mindful and ecological practices—Tadeo and the student council learned to sort the cafeteria trash into five categories: recyclables, compost, foods, liquids and landfill. ​

To spread awareness of the importance of their initiative among students, Tadeo and the council made posters and created videos on the five categories of waste. During cafeteria periods, they continue to help students sort trash into the proper waste bins.​

Tadeo, a true believer that small actions can amount to big change, is optimistic that his work at school and at home will grow. “We are all doing our best, even me,” he says. “All that hard work and dedication will pay off. It doesn’t matter how slow or fast we work up to that—we have to keep working hard.”