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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Re:Dish: Walpole Public Schools
Project Size: 3,700 student school district
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: unknown
Material: plastic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 396,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: unknown
Break-Even: unknown
MN Pollution Control Agency: Minnetonka Middle Schools
Project Size: 1,639 student school district
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Government grant - MPCA Environmental Assistance
Material: plastic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 700,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $3,000 Y1 / $7,500 annual
Break-Even: less than one year
MA DEP: Town of Framingham Elementary Schools
Project Size: 2,154 student school district
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Government grant - MASS DEP SMRP
Material: plastic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 16.6 tons
Cost Savings: unknown
Break-Even: less than one year
MA DEP: New Bedford Public Schools
Project Size: 12,500 student school district
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Government grant - MA DEP SMRP
Material: plastic
Disposables Avoided: 1,627,980 (annual)
Cost Savings: unknown
Break-Even: unknown
ReThink Disposable: Bedford Public Schools
Project Size: 1,400 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Private grant: Plastic Free Restaurants
Material: metal
Disposables Avoided: 261,720 (annual)
Cost Savings: $11,777
Break-Even: 9 months
ReThink Disposable: Middletown School District
Project Size: 4,500 student meals/day
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Public & private grants and donations: CT Equipment Assistance grant, Plastic Free Restaurants, donors
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 3,760,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: $91,175
Break-Even: 3.8 months
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
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
Bold Reuse: Seattle Public Schools
Project Size: 17 Schools
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Material: Plastic
Disposables Avoided: 300,000 (2023-2025)
Cost Savings: Unknown
Break-Even: Unknown
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