Reuse Case Study Explorer
The case for reuse is strong. Many dozens of case studies from pilots and projects around the world and across many sectors prove cost and environmental savings. In order to illustrate the potential for reuse in every documented scenario, Upstream has gathered this filterable database of reuse case studies. By using the filters, you can identify and/or download all case studies pertaining to the most common fields of inquiry. (Discover more sorting tags by clicking into each case study).
If you know of a case study you do not find here, please let us know and we will happily add it! If you would like further information about any of these case studies or would like to further explore how such data can inform your reuse operations, contact us.
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ReThink Disposable: Lola’s Chicken Shack
Capacity: 48
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: mixed
Disposables Avoided: 65,022 (annual)
Cost Savings: $13,205 (annual net)
Break-Even: 15 days - cups, 12 months - straws
ReThink Disposable: Cybelle’s Pizza
Capacity: 20
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: none
Material: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 162,946 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,579 (annual net)
Break-Even: 3.8 months
ReThink Disposable: Manila Eatery
Capacity: 35
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: plastic, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 54,507 (annual)
Cost Savings: $4,693 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1.3 months
ReThink Disposable: Shish Grill
Capacity: 30
Dishwashing model: 3 compartment sink
Funding Source: none
Material: glass, plastic, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 73,559 (annual)
Cost Savings: $974 (annual net)
Break-Even: unknown
ReThink Disposable: San Carlos Youth Center
Capacity: 130
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: unknown
Material: durable non-plastic
Disposables Avoided: 18,898 (annual)
Cost Savings: $719 (annual net)
Break-Even: 17.7 months
ReThink Disposable: Ballast Coffee
Capacity: 30
Dishwashing model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: none
Material: metal, glass
Return Rate: 75%
Disposables Avoided: 12,369 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,263 (annual net)
Break-Even: 4.3 months
ReThink Disposable: House of Dim Sum
Capacity: 84
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: ReThink Disposable
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 2,206,277 (annual)
Cost Savings: $33,561 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1.7 weeks
ReThink Disposable: The Warfield
Venue Size: 2250
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 93%
Disposables Avoided: 204,800 (annual)
Cost Savings: $33,000 annual profit due to 3% sustainability fee
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: The Fillmore
Venue Size: 1199
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 89% (2 months)
Disposables Avoided: 16,400 (2 months) / 176,200 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,400 (annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: August Hall
Venue Size: 951
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 91% (3.5 months)
Disposables Avoided: 24,500 (3.5 months) / 232,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $29,700 (annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
ReThink Disposable: USF Market Cafe
Project Size: 5,000 transactions/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 2,607,519 (annual)
Cost Savings: $157,883
Break-Even: 2 weeks
ReThink Disposable: Palo Alto Unified School District
Project Size: 3,400 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 436,540 (annual)
Cost Savings: $16,523
Break-Even: 5 months
CEH: Fremont Unified School District
Project Size: 10,000 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: Public & Private Grants - StopWaste & Plastic Free Restaurants
Material: metal
Disposables Avoided: 2,373,300 (annual)
Cost Savings: unknown
Break-Even: unknown
ReThink Disposable: Bishop O’Dowd High School
Project Size: 450 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Disposables Avoided: 100,212 (annual)
Cost Savings: $6,459 (net annual)
Break-Even: 21 days
CEH & ReThink Disposable: Berkeley Unified School District
Project Size: 2000 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Private Grant - Plastic Free Restaurants
Material: Plastic, Metal
Disposables Avoided: 170,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $13,064 (net annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
Green Sports Alliance: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Venue Size: 77,500
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 92%
Disposables Avoided: 30,000 (3 months)
Cost Savings: Unknown
Break-Even: Unknown
Hobart: Benjamin Franklin Elementary
Project Size: 350 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Private donation (dishwasher)
Material: Plastic, Metal
Disposables Avoided: 128,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $5,780 (net annual)
Break-Even: Unknown
StopWaste: Full Belly Farms
Project Size: 150 distribution sites
Funding Source: Government Grant - StopWaste
Material: Plastic totes
Disposables Avoided: 8,330
Cost Savings: $14,161 (annual)
StopWaste: PepsiCo (Gatorade)
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic pallets
Disposables Avoided: 1,320
Cost Savings: $380,000 (annual)
StopWaste: Bay Area News Group
Project Size: 4 Locations
Funding Source: Government Grant - StopWaste
Material: Plastic pallets
Disposables Avoided: 1,700
Cost Savings: $46,000 (annual)
ROI: 125%
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