A Charlotte restaurant is helping customers go green when they order to-go.

Mert's Heart and Soul serves up low country cooking for the hungry lunch crowd in uptown Charlotte. Owner James Bazzelle's business has grown over the past 10 years, along with the city. But not all the growth is good.

“If you have ever been to a landfill in Mecklenburg County and see that mountain of garbage, you realize what we put out every day,” Bazzelle said.

A month ago he made a choice to try and change that. He got rid of Styrofoam cups and to-go containers, and plastic bags that cannot be recycled in Mecklenburg County. He replaced them with biodegradable cups and aluminum carry-out containers, and paper bags that can be recycled. He also recycles fryer grease and all paper and cardboard.

“We're a growing city. We will only increase the amount of waste we produce. It won’t decrease. So right now is the best time to figure out what we will do with these things,” he said.

It's cost him 15 to 20 percent more. Some customers appreciate his efforts.

“I think it’s terrific, anything we can do to save the planet,” customer Karl Ham said.

“If just 10 percent of restaurants did this, there would be less waste. It would be a good thing for everybody,” said customer Alex Jarrett.

There are about 160 restaurants in uptown Charlotte alone. Bazzelle is hoping all of them will join his fight.

“If everybody tried a little bit, we all could make a difference. I know that,” he said.