Greening a Restaurant
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Author
Trantham, Cary
Date
2009
Degree
Master of Arts in Earth Literacy
Abstract
When deciding what my final project should be, I looked back at the
environmental issues addressed in most of my papers in the ELM program. The two
things that I found to be most important to me were non-biodegradable plastics and trash.
We are a society of consumers and consumerism generates a lot of garbage. I have
always enjoyed the beautiful landscapes of our magnificent planet and seeing it fouled
with cans, plastic containers, etc. has been appalling. Therefore, it seemed natural that I
should address these issues. Then I looked at what I could do that might make a
difference. I am a Certified Public Accountant and have worked with a few restaurants in
the past. I began to think about all of the non-biodegradable trash and recyclables which
are generated in the restaurant business. One of my clients has been Kelly’s Caribbean
Bar, Grill and Brewery. I decided to approach Fred Tillman, the owner, to see if he
would be willing to work with me in the process of “greening” his restaurant. After
discussing my proposal with his wife, he agreed and we began the project.
I live in the Florida Keys which is a very fragile eco-system. Protecting and
preserving our natural resources is of major importance not only in maintaining our
quality of life but also supporting our tourist industry. Little did I know when I started
my project how difficult my journey was going to be and how our location created
environmental obstacles not generally addressed.