ecoloop/public_front.../use_cases.md

Use Cases for Factory Owner Finding a Recycling Business

This document outlines the primary use cases for a factory owner (or a similar industrial producer of scrap materials) interacting with the public-facing frontend of a recycling business that uses the Ecoloop platform.

Actors

• Factory Owner: An individual or entity representing a business that generates recyclable scrap materials as a byproduct of its operations.
• Recycling Business: The organization running this specific instance of the Ecoloop platform, which processes, buys, or manages recyclable materials.

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Use Case 1: Discover and Vet a Recycling Partner

Goal: The factory owner wants to find a reliable, local recycling business to handle their specific types of industrial scrap.

Scenario:

1. The factory owner searches online for "recycling services for plastic scrap" and discovers the recycling business's public website (powered by Ecoloop).
2. On the homepage, they understand the business's core services: managing recycling, pickups, and material listings.
3. They navigate to the Materials page to verify that the business handles the materials they produce (e.g., "LDPE Film," "Corrugated Cardboard").
4. They browse the Listings page to see what materials the business is actively seeking or selling, giving them confidence that this is an active and relevant marketplace.
5. Feeling confident, the factory owner decides to initiate contact to discuss a potential partnership.

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Use Case 2: Request a One-Time Pickup for Scrap Materials

Goal: The factory owner has an accumulation of scrap and needs to schedule a pickup without committing to a long-term contract.

Scenario:

1. The factory owner lands on the public site and navigates directly to the "Request Pickup" page.
2. They fill out the pickup request form, providing:
   • Their name and contact information (email/phone).
   • The factory's address for the pickup.
   • A preferred date and time.
   • A brief description of the materials to be collected (e.g., "Approx. 2 tons of baled cardboard and 500 lbs of shrink wrap").
3. Upon submission, the form is sent to the recycling business as a Lead.
4. The factory owner sees a success message confirming their request has been submitted and awaits a direct follow-up from the business's staff to finalize logistics.

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Use Case 3: Inquire About a Public Listing

Goal: The factory owner sees a listing for a material they either have or need and wants to engage with the recycling business.

Scenario:

1. While browsing the Listings page, the factory owner finds a listing of interest, for example, "Wanted: Clean PET plastic regrind."
2. They click on the listing to view the Listing Detail page, which provides more information about quantity, quality specifications, and terms.
3. To act on this listing, the factory owner navigates to the "Contact" page.
4. They fill out the contact form, mentioning the specific listing in their message (e.g., "Hello, I'm writing in response to your listing for PET regrind. We produce this material and would like to discuss supplying it.").
5. This inquiry is captured as a Lead for the recycling business, providing their sales or procurement team with a direct, actionable request.

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Use Case 4: Gain Knowledge on Recycling Best Practices

Goal: The factory owner wants to improve their internal waste sorting and handling processes to increase the value of their scrap.

Scenario:

1. The factory owner explores the site and clicks on the "Blog" section.
2. They find and read an article titled, for example, "5 Ways to Reduce Contamination in Your Plastic Waste Stream."
3. The article provides valuable insights that help the owner implement better sorting practices at their factory.
4. This knowledge empowers the factory owner to produce higher-quality scrap, making them a more valuable supplier for recycling businesses.