Better Business Challenge: Wild Wing Cafe
Clark and I partnered with Wild Wings Café to reduce their environmental impact and increase their overall sustainable awareness through the implementation of innovate technology and a focus on reduction / re-use of resources. After our first meeting, we created an intuitive, attainable, and cost sensitive outline to address the most detrimental practices; the current lack of any form of recycling and the excessive use of non-compostable Styrofoam to-go containers. Throughout the semester, we attempted to implement the use of eco-friendly to-go containers and institute a recycling program for their glass and cardboard.
Better Business Challenge, Wild Wing Cafe, energy, waste, recycle, to-go boxes, resources, budget restraints, sports bar, David Carey, Clark Orthwein
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Better Business Challenge: Wild Wing Cafe

WildWingsCafe (click PDF)

Fall 2011

Team Members: David Carey and Clark Orthwein

Clark and I partnered with Wild Wings Café to reduce their environmental impact and increase their overall sustainable awareness through the implementation of innovate technology and a focus on reduction / re-use of resources. After our first meeting, we created an intuitive, attainable, and cost sensitive outline to address the most detrimental practices; the current lack of any form of recycling and the excessive use of non-compostable Styrofoam to-go containers. Throughout the semester, we attempted to implement the use of eco-friendly to-go containers and institute a recycling program for their glass and cardboard.

Unfortunately the use of eco-friendly (sugar cane) to-go containers was simply too expensive to implement. We tried several different manufactures, pricing multiple container options, yet nothing came close to their budget. The ecofriendly containers cost roughly double what they are current paying and was taken off the agenda due to budgetary restrictions.

The recycling part of our plan is still coming together. We reached out to Waste Management, McIntire Road Recycling Center, Paper Sort, The Ivy Center, and the City of Charlottesville, in an attempt to find the most cost effective recycling option. Jake Brown from the City of Charlottesville Recycling and Conservation Division, said that he would be willing to make an “off-street” pick-up exception for Wild Wings Café. This was a major step, as they could not carry the recyclable waste up to West Main St. The pick-up location would have to be between the Amtrak station and Wild Wings Café. We are still waiting to hear back on permission from Amtrak, as the pick-up location is on their property easement. If Amtrak approves the pick-up location, Kiersten will then reach out to the Virginia Health Department and apply for special approval to keep waste outside the establishment.

In addition to our two main goals stated above, we tried minimize the environmentally detrimental inputs while maintaining efficient and economic business operations. These efforts included: an attempt to reduce power usage by suggesting that lights and TV’s be turned off in unoccupied areas. We provided information on installing infrared motion sensors at the top of the stairs. This would reduce power usage of the high-performs TVs upstairs. However, Kiersten exemplified the need for constant TV usage, as Wild Wings’ is primarily a sports bar. The idea of dimming the unused televisions serves as a medium to reduce power usage. Kiersten was fond of this motion, and hopes to implement the idea shortly.

wild wing cafe