Ramapo Student Business Picks Up Former Municipal Service

John Douma and Alex Abolt, two Ramapo High School students, saw a business opportunity when the township decided to ax curbside pickups of grass clippings this year.

The township committee opted to discontinue the service late last year, instead encouraging recycling of the yardwaste in a move that saved taxpayers over $50,000 for 2013.

Douma and Abolt picked up where the municipality left off, acquiring a pickup truck and building a customer base through word of mouth, among the few remaining residents who had still utilized the township's grass collection services.

"There are still some residents who want to have their grass clippings collected, and it seemed like a great business opportunity," Douma said.

"It was frustrating not being able to find a summer job," said Abolt, who plans to continue his entrepreneurial streak by becoming a contractor after college.

"I love doing stuff like this. I can't imagine sitting behind a desk. This can be a great business for us for the next few years as we'll need money for college."

Douma, a football player and wrestling captain at Ramapo, plans to go to maritime college to be a ship's captain.

Residents interested in the service can contact Douma at 201-788-7880 or at doumajohn.a@gmail.com