The No Styrofoam Ninja

Name: Madhvi Chittoor • Town: Arvada, Colorado

Madhvi Chittoor, 13, recently scored a major victory in the fight against plastic waste. She helped create a Colorado state law banning the use of Styrofoam takeout containers at restaurants. The ban, which took effect this past January, also bars single-use plastic bags at most retail stores.

Madhvi, who has a black belt in tae kwon do, calls herself the “No Styrofoam Ninja.” She’s been on a mission to help the environment for years. At just 5, she was inspired to take action after watching a documentary on plastic pollution. 

The United States produced about 40 million tons of plastic waste in 2021. That’s according to a report by the environmental groups Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics. It can take hundreds of years for Styrofoam and other plastic waste to break down. 

Inspired to make a difference in her state, Madhvi collected signatures, wrote emails, and spoke before lawmakers to help get the bill passed. She also met with about 35 mayors from around the state and talked about the ban with restaurant and business owners.

Madhvi says she isn’t done fighting for the planet—and she hopes others will follow her lead.

“I want everybody to turn into ninjas,” she says, “and refuse Styrofoam and plastics.”

—Lisa M. Herrington