# Leo Toake's Eco-Innovation

> 16-year-old Leo Toake turns potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller that kills 82.5% of invasive plants.
- Title: Leo Toake's Eco-Innovation · Indiatimes | Shortify
- Summary: 16-year-old Leo Toake turns potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller that kills 82.5% of invasive plants.
- Keywords: leo toake, re:imagine inc, s.a.f.e., potato peels, coffee grounds, weedy plants, invasive plants, japanese stilt grass, native species, food waste, landfill diversion, community restoration
- Source: Indiatimes — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/nature/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/articleshow/135674751.cms
- Author: TOI Science Desk
- Published: 2026-11-09T17:26:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: leo toake, re:imagine inc, s.a.f.e., potato peels, coffee grounds, weedy plants, invasive plants, japanese stilt grass, native species, food waste, landfill diversion, community restoration
## Leo Toake's Eco-Innovation
Meet Leo Toake, 16, from New Jersey, who turned discarded potato peels and coffee grounds into a weedkiller tested at 82.5% inhibition.
## S.A.F.E. Weedkiller
His product, S.A.F.E., achieved 82.5% inhibition against Japanese stilt grass in preliminary trials.
## Community Restoration
Toake and 70+ volunteers restored 15 acres and removed over two tons of invasive plants.
## Food Waste Diversion
The initiative diverted more than 500 pounds of food waste from landfills into S.A.F.E. production.
## Re:Imagine Inc.
Toake co-founded Re:Imagine Inc. to address food waste and invasive plant species.
## Barron Prize Recognition
Toake was a 2026 runner-up in the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
## Native Species Planting
The team planted over 100 keystone species to restore local biodiversity.
## Volunteer Impact
Over 70 volunteers participated in habitat restoration across 15 acres in northern New Jersey.
## Invasive Plant Removal
The project removed more than two tons of invasive plant biomass.
## Community Partnerships
Re:Imagine Inc. partnered with local businesses and nature centers for restoration efforts.
## Early Recognition
The team won third prize and $2,500 in the Bill of Rights Institute's MyImpact Challenge.
## Sustainable Solution
S.A.F.E. offers a low-cost alternative to conventional weedkillers for invasive plants.
## Long-Term Vision
Toake aims to build a lasting culture of environmental responsibility through community action.
## Native Ecosystem Recovery
The project helps native biodiversity recover by reducing invasive plant spread.
## Eco-Community Model
Re:Imagine Inc. shows how food waste can become a tool for environmental restoration.
## Future Impact
The initiative demonstrates scalable solutions for invasive plant management and food waste reduction.
## Key takeaway

Leo Toake, 16, from New Jersey, created S.A.F.E. weedkiller from food scraps that inhibits 82.5% of Japanese stilt grass.