Meet Leo Toake, 16, who turned potato peels into weedkiller and restored 15 acres in New Jersey

NewsScience NewsMeet Leo Toake, 16, from New Jersey, who turned discarded potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller tested at 82.5% inhibition, while his team restored 15 acres and removed more than two tons of invasive plants Meet Leo Toake, 16, from New Jersey, who turned discarded potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller tested at 82.5% inhibition, while his team restored 15 acres and removed more than two tons of invasive plants TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 09, 2026, 22:56 IST Leo Toake, 16, from New Jersey, who turned discarded potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller (Image Credit: Barron Prize for Young Heroes) What if food scraps usually thrown into the bin could help restore damaged ecosystems?

In New Jersey, 16-year-old Leo Toake is exploring that possibility by turning discarded potato peels and coffee grounds into an alternative herbicide designed to control invasive plants. Through his nonprofit, Re:Imagine Inc., he has combined scientific experimentation with community-led restoration, bringing young volunteers together to protect local green spaces and encourage the growth of native species.Toake's work received national recognition through the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which recognised Toake as a 2026 runner-up and highlighted his environmental initiative.

According to the Barron Prize's profile, his experimental product, called S.A.F.E., achieved an 82.5% inhibition rate against invasive Japanese stilt grass in preliminary trials. Alongside developing the product, Toake and more than 70 volunteers have restored 15 acres in northern New Jersey, removed over two tons of invasive plant material and planted more than 100 keystone species.Turning food waste into an alternative herbicide Toake co-founded Re:Imagine Inc.

to address two environmental problems together: the growing amount of food waste sent to landfills and the spread of invasive plant species that threaten native biodiversity. The organisation's work extends beyond developing a product.

Toake has focused on involving students, volunteers, local businesses and nature centres in practical environmental restoration. An earlier report by RLS Media, published on July 10, 2025, identified Toake alongside fellow Bergen County Academies students Muhammad El-Sherbiny, Elle Kim and Justin Ahn as co-founders of Re:Imagine Inc.

The four students received third prize and a $2,500 award in the Bill of Rights Institute's MyImpact Challenge for their initiative.The competition attracted more than 400 participants from across the United States.

The students' project focused on restoring parks, forests and green spaces while addressing invasive vegetation and food waste. At that stage, the team had planted over 100 native keystone species and organised 12 trail cleanups to address erosion and littering.

The project also involved partnerships with local businesses, volunteers and nature centres to collect compostable materials.Restoring 15 acres with volunteers Toake's work was featured among the runners-up in the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

The award recognises young people across the United States and Canada who have made a positive difference to their communities or the environment. The Barron Prize profile highlighted his efforts to connect scientific research with community service.

It also described how Re:Imagine Inc. aims to build a lasting culture of environmental responsibility rather than treating restoration as a one-time activity. Reflecting on the project's development, Toake said his initial effort to restore land had evolved into something more enduring, centred on encouraging people to see themselves as responsible for the environment.Through Re:Imagine Inc., Toake is showing how an idea involving everyday food waste can grow into a wider conservation effort.

His initiative brings together scientific experimentation, volunteer participation and habitat restoration, while encouraging other young people to take an active role in protecting local ecosystems. The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India.

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