It seems not a day goes by without the U.S. government bailing out a corporation or taking over a failed automobile manufacturer. But one local 13-year-old is providing the antidote to the bailout culture.

T.J. Stroupe of Fancy Gap recently received a signed plaque from President Barack Obama commending him for his outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship. Stroupe opened his own business, T.J.’s Recycling, after his mother, Tina, gave him a recycling kit for his 11th birthday. The enterprising teenager began the business collecting old ink cartridges and cell phones from Twin County businesses to be recycled. Stroupe’s business started with recycling stations at five or six locations in the Carroll County Governmental Coxplex. T.J.’s Recycling has now grown to the point where stations are set up at 110 businesses in Galax, Hillsville, Wytheville and Independence. Items collected now include laser cartridges, corks, juice pouches, yogurt cups, bottle labels, VCR tapes, candy bar wrappers, energy bar wrappers, potato chip bags, cookie wrappers and books (dated 2002 or after with a U.S. list price of $12.95 or more).

Both T.J. and his mother received separate plaques from President Obama after he submitted a review about all the new items T.J.’s Recycling now accepts.

“My mom found this president’s youth award on the computer one day and I sent in a review,” Stroupe said. “I got picked as first runner-up, so they sent me and my mom a plaque.”

Stroupe’s environment-friendly business has also earned him national acclaim outside the Oval Office. Earlier this year, Stroupe was sponsored and selected by Disney Family for a trip to New York City on Feb. 25 to attend a Going Green Concert.

“They had all kinds of different companies showing off some of the green ideas and stuff they had,” Stroupe said. “Disney Family set up a booth there advertising DisneyFamily.com and they invited me to come along with them to New York.”

Even though Stroupe was in NYC on business, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the bright lights and skyscrapers of the Big Apple.

“They even gave me a Broadway Show, a motel on Broadway, a $19 hamburger and a $29 steak,” Stroupe said. “It was in New York City right on the main part of it with the big lights and stuff. The smallest building they have there is bigger than the hospital in Galax. You will never see anything like New York City.”

Stroupe said T.J.’s Recycling typically collects more than a 100 cartridges in a slow month. Business is a little slow right now, he said, as he’s not had a chance to check up on many of his recycling stations because of a surgery his mother recently underwent. But in the meantime, he’s excited about the recognition his green ideas have warranted.

“It was pretty nice having a plaque signed from the president,” Stroupe said.

Anyone interested in T.J.’s Recycling can call Stroupe on his business phone at (276)-617-1304 or contact him via e-mail at tjayondamove@yahoo.com