Date: November 21, 2017

To: The Northshore Merchants

From: Madison Roberts
Subject: Recommendations for the Implementation of Green Business Practices

Purpose
The purpose of this proposal is to recommend ideas for the Northshore area to become more environmentally
friendly and implement green business approaches.

Summary
At the beginning of the month of October, a meeting for the Northshore merchants was held in which several
concerns for the amount of business waste being produced on a weekly basis was brought up. The issue of not only
the amount of waste, but also the types of waste were also discussed. After working in two different stores in the
Northshore area, I have had first-hand experience of the types and amount of detrimental waste for the environment.

This recommendation memo outlines the harmful effects of various waste materials while also providing alternatives
to these materials. Based on the research I have conducted, I will also be able to provide information on the benefits
of green alternatives and price differences between green and detrimental products.

Introduction
At the beginning of October, a meeting was held for the Northshore Merchants was held in which they determined
there was in issue in the amount of detrimental waste being produced between all of the small businesses that make
up the collective. Because of the growing attractiveness of Chattanooga, small businesses are experiencing a boom
in business and, therefore, an increase in waste materials.

At the meeting for the Northshore merchants, there were many business owners that voiced their concern for the
amounts of unintended waste being produced in each of their small businesses. Because Chattanooga is not only a
college town, but also a hot tourist spot, businesses are experiencing a spike in trash being produced by them and
customers daily.

After working in two of the many small businesses in the Northshore area, I have first-hand experience with the
amounts of waste that both companies produce. Although the current shop I work for takes environmentally friendly
measures, there is still room for improvement. That being said, the shop I worked at before that had no green
incentives just to save time and productivity. Many shops in Northshore remain in this gray area of whether or not
taking green initiatives will be worth it after time and money are factored in.

Green materials are often thought to be costlier than Styrofoam or plastic cups; however, this is not always the case.
There will be a section of my research in which I will focus on the prices of different green alternatives compared to
prices of current materials being used. This will give businesses a sense of relief when they realize that going green
does not mean breaking the bank. Since the Northshore Merchants have recognized that waste products are a
problem in the area, I will be sure to provide solutions and alternatives to detrimental products in this memo.

It is vital that Chattanooga maintains not only its appearance, but also its culture. So much hard work has been put
into keeping this city clean; it is time now for us to focus on keeping our world clean. With green initiatives popping
up all over the country and even world, I am sure that Chattanooga will have no problem acclimating to this new
conscientiousness of the world we all love and share.
 Research Methods
Step 1: Conduct studies on how much/what type of waste is being produced

In order to assure that the proper actions are taken, I first needed to conduct studies on three shops in the Northshore
area. The studies consisted of information gathered from the three anonymous shops on:
1. How much trash is being taken out in one day?
2. What kinds of materials do workers observe being put in the trash?

Based on articles and books I have read; I am aware of the levels of negative environmental effects of different
kinds of materials. I was sure to keep in mind that some materials thrown away are biodegradable, and I also took
recycling efforts into account.

Step 2: Research alternative materials and their prices

Based on the studies conducted in step one, I was able to begin research on various alternative, biodegradable
materials. It is important to provide shops with reasonable prices for alternative materials. They are relying on me to
provide them with a solution that makes sense financially and will not cut productivity.

Step 3: Share my results

My third, and final, step is to share my findings with the Northshore Merchants. I will take all of the data I have
compiled and provide helpful information on actions to be taken to better the Northshore area. My final report will
list all of this information in detail with various solutions to each problem. In my final report, I also hope to touch on
some other suggestions for green practices to go along with the culture of my proposal. I will provide information
that will give business owners the will to change some of their former practices.

Results
Step 1: Conduct studies on how much/what type of waste is being

Since my research is based off three different businesses, I have research from all three businesses for both sections
in this step of my research. For the food business, workers had to take out 6 bags of trash a day on average. The
workers noticed that about 80% of the trash was composed of plastic cups and utensils, while about 20% was
napkins, paper cups, etc. The gift shop recycles, so they put all of their paper, cardboard, and plastic products in this
and only have to take one small bag of trash out a day. The trash consisted of mostly stickers and paper with writing
on it. The art gallery also had recycling options in which they put all of their cardboard. Much like the gift shop,
they only had a small bag of trash a day that consisted of mainly food products from employees.

Step 2: Research alternative materials and their prices

Based on the research from step one, I concluded that the food business should be my primary focus because they
produce the most waste in a day. After researching other various materials that could be used instead of plastic, I
was surprised to come across a fact that I had not even thought about when I began my research. Plastic can be
recycled, and businesses can purchase plastic materials that have been recycled in the past. If this alternative was
used, paper cups would not have to be used. I also found out that recycled plastic is cheaper per unit volume than
regular plastic, so businesses should have no problem with the transition.

Step 3: Share my results

I plan on sharing my findings with the Northshore merchants. I also plan on letting them know in my final report
that the food businesses in the area should be the primary focus of the green initiative because they are the ones that
produce the most waste without recycling.
 Limitations of Study
One obvious limitation of study was the fact that I was unable to take all of the research myself. I relied on
employees for a bulk of my information. I also am unable to come up with exact percentages and numerical values
for the categories of trash being taken to the dumpster. However, while these values would be helpful, they are not
essential because the merchants have already come to me with the problem. Their main focus is for me to find
alternatives, not prove to them that there is an issue.

Conclusions
My main conclusion that I have reached is that plastic materials are the main culprit of trash waste in the Northshore
area. I also concluded that the food service businesses are notorious for wasting materials that could be harmful to
the environment without taking steps to recycle. All in all, my findings will hopefully open the eyes of all businesses
in the area.

Recommendations
1. Use either paper of recycled plastic instead of regular plastic

As mentioned before, cutting out regular, unrecycled plastic would help reduce waste. Based on
the amount of cups that the food business buys at once now, they could replace the plastic cups
with either paper or recycled plastic for about the same price as they are paying for regular plastic.
The recycled plastic is the cheapest of the two options, but paper was only about thirty dollars
more per order. I also got information on who supplies the food business with their paper and
plastic products, and I contacted that business. They offer both paper and recycled plastic options.
This is extremely helpful because this way, the food business can still keep their relationship with
that company while still starting greener practices.

2. Get a recycle bin near the dumpster

One thing I noticed at the dumpster in which all of the Northshore shops dispose of their waste is
that there are no recycling bins provided. I found out that the gift shop that recycles takes their
recycling to the recycling center of Chattanooga about once a week. Since many of the other
businesses do not think about/have time to do this, it would be much easier to simply order several
recycling bins for the city to put back near the dumpster. This would give all of these businesses a
chance to recycle, since the bins will be sitting right next to the trash cans.

3. Provide recycling bins inside for customers

Providing recycling bins inside for customers would be ideal because this could separate trash
from recycle at the source. I have seen recycling bins that are attached to trashcans and have
different holes for different forms of recyclable material. This would make not only the
employees jobs easier, but also everyone that works at the recycling facilities. It would also, or
course, help the environment.

Works Cited
Firehock, Karen, and R. Andrew Walker. Strategic Green Infrastructure Planning: A Multi-
Scale Approach. Washington, DC, Island Press (Bibliovault), 2015. 3-6. Web.

Johnson, Jerry. Plastic Pollution. Chicago Tribune (Pre-1997), vol. 16, 1990, pp. 1616.
Lankford, Ronald D, and Thomson Gale (Firm). Green Cities. Detroit, Greenhaven Press,
2011. 3-7 Web.

Rice, Stanley A. Green Planet : How Plants Keep the Earth Alive. New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers
University Press, 2009. 9-27. Web.