Can a 12-year-old really change how we think about waste, entrepreneurship, and community action? In this powerful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we meet Joseph Wijaya—known locally as Joseph Recycling—a young environmental activist and entrepreneur from Bali who's turning plastic waste into products with purpose.
Joseph began his recycling journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting trash with local friends to make pocket money. What started as a childhood game quickly evolved into a community clean-up movement—and eventually a business. Today, Joseph runs his own plastic sorting and upcycling workshop, creating products like sunglasses, carabiners, and coasters from discarded materials.
But Joseph’s mission goes far beyond products. In this heartfelt conversation, he talks about plastic pollution in Bali, the barriers young people face accessing education, how he sources materials from neighbours and schools, and how he even called out Nestlé at a global summit for their misleading environmental claims.
From crowdfunding campaigns to Sunday market sales, Joseph shows us what’s possible when youth are trusted, supported, and given space to lead.
Key Topics Covered:
✅ Starting a Recycling Business at 10 Years Old – How a community clean-up became a social enterprise
✅ Plastic Pollution in Bali – A young local's view of a global environmental crisis
✅ Upcycling for Impact – Turning shampoo bottles and plastic waste into useful products
✅ Access to Education & Inequality – Why birth certificates and poverty keep kids out of school
✅ Facing Global Corporations – Calling out greenwashing and standing up for the truth at Nestlé HQ
✅ Youth Leadership & Advocacy – Why Joseph wants to join government to push for real change
✅ Daily Life as a Kid-Entrepreneur – Homeschooling, managing a workshop, and mentoring others
✅ Advice for Young Changemakers – Start small, learn step-by-step, and never stop asking questions
Joseph reminds us that age is not a limitation, and that real transformation starts with courage, curiosity, and care for others and the planet.
📌 Do you think kids can lead the way in solving environmental problems? Would you support youth-led businesses like Joseph’s? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Guests:
Joseph Wijaya:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joseph_recycling/?hl=en
Host:
Andrés Morales:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachon
Minca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com
🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more inspiring stories of social innovation, sustainability, and youth-led change.