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: 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
City of Tallinn: Youth Song & Dance Festival
Audience Size: 125,000
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: Municipal
Material: plastic
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 500,000
Cost Savings: unknown
City of Munich: Oktoberfest
Audience Size: 6,000,000
Dishwashing Model: Commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Municipal Waste Management
Material: mixed
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 211 tons / year
Cost Savings: unknown
Manchester City Council: Reuse at Events
Audience Size: citywide
Dishwashing Model: Commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Government Grant - C-Change
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 1,700,000 (2 years)
Cost Savings: 40%
City of Ghent: Ghent Festival
Audience Size: 1,500,000
Dishwashing Model: Commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: Government Grant - City of Ghent
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: 89%
Disposables Avoided: 20 tons
Cost Savings: 12% year over year
City of Bremin: Breminale Fesitval
Venue Size: 220,000
Dishwashing Model: Mobile rental dishwashing unit & wash hub
Funding Source: Government Grant - Bremen Cultural Department
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 2.6 tons
Cost Savings: variable
Break-Even: variable
Reuse Seattle: Seattle Pacific University
Project Size: 2,260 student body
Dishwashing Model: commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: plastic
Disposables Avoided: 23,900 (annual)
Cost Savings: Unknown
Break-Even: Unknown
Green Sports Alliance: AEG & Levy
Venue Size: 3 venues (36,350 total capacity)
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: unknown
Disposables Avoided: 3,000,000 (annual)
Cost Savings: Unknown
Break-Even: Unknown
Green Sports Alliance: Wimbledon Championships
Venue Size: 42,000
Dishwashing Model: Reuse Service Provider
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic
Return Rate: Unknown
Disposables Avoided: 500,000 (2 weeks)
Cost Savings: Unknown
Break-Even: Unknown
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