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.

Submit a study

Sector Key
Click an icon to see case studies by sector — and/or use the filters in the side bar.

2020 9/25/25 2020 9/25/25

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

2023 | r.World 9/25/25 2023 | r.World 9/25/25

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

2019 9/25/25 2019 9/25/25

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

2024 | Muuse 9/23/25 2024 | Muuse 9/23/25

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)

2009 9/23/25 2009 9/23/25

StopWaste: PepsiCo (Gatorade)

Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic pallets
Disposables Avoided: 1,320
Cost Savings: $380,000 (annual)

Erin Covey-Smith 9/23/25 Erin Covey-Smith 9/23/25

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%

2005 9/23/25 2005 9/23/25

StopWaste: Toyota Logistics Services

Project Size: 6 Facilities
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic totes
Disposables Avoided: 3,000 tons
Cost Savings: $3,500,000 (annual)

2010 9/23/25 2010 9/23/25

StopWaste: Peerless Coffee & Tea

Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic totes
Disposables Avoided: 3,000
Cost Savings: $10,000 (annual)
Break-Even: 4 years

1990 9/23/25 1990 9/23/25

StopWaste: Kaiser Permanente

Project Size: 12 Hospitals
Funding Source: None
Material: Plastic totes
Return/Retention Rate: 93-97%
Disposables Avoided: 360,000
Cost Savings: $40,000 (annual)
Break-Even: 4 years

2005 9/19/25 2005 9/19/25

StopWaste: Ghiradelli Chocolate

Funding Source: Government Grant: Business Waste Prevention Fund
Material: Plastic totes
Disposables Avoided: 580,000
Cost Savings: $1,950,000 (net)
Break-Even: 1.2 years

2019 9/18/25 2019 9/18/25

ReThink Disposable: Crispian Bakery

Capacity: 10
Dishwashing model: rental dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: metal
Disposables Avoided: 59,314 (annual)
Cost Savings: $1,739 (annual net)
Break-Even: 6.2 months

2018 9/17/25 2018 9/17/25

ReThink Disposable: New York Pizza

Capacity: 18
Dishwashing model: under counter dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 135,354 (annual)
Cost Savings: $3,043 (annual net)
Break-Even: 4.1 months

2016 9/16/25 2016 9/16/25

ReThink Disposable: El Metate

Capacity: 40
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink (dishwasher purchased after reporting period)
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 493,711 (annual)
Cost Savings: $8,957 (annual net)
Break-Even: 11.3 months

2018 9/16/25 2018 9/16/25

ReThink Disposable: The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa

Capacity: 35
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: None
Material: plastic, metal
Disposables Avoided: 205,008 (annual)
Cost Savings: $6,898 (annual net)
Break-Even: 5.4 months

2024 9/16/25 2024 9/16/25

Turn the Tide on Plastic: Deja Blue

Capacity: 100
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, glass, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 67,221 (annual)
Cost Savings: $16,991 (annual net)
Break-Even: 2 months

2022 9/16/25 2022 9/16/25

ReThink Disposable: Red’s Donuts

Capacity: 20
Dishwashing model: Commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, glass, ceramic
Disposables Avoided: 201,851 (annual)
Cost Savings: $12,239 (annual net)

2025 9/16/25 2025 9/16/25

CA Green Business Network: Cultiva

Capacity: 35
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: None
Material: metal, porcelain
Disposables Avoided: 6,844 (annual)
Cost Savings: $689 (annual net)

2019 9/16/25 2019 9/16/25

ReThink Disposable: Hang Ten Boiler

Capacity: 50
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink & commercial dishwasher
Funding Source: None
Material: melamine, plastic
Disposables Avoided: 318,271 (annual)
Cost Savings: $3,988 (annual net)
Break-Even: 4.3 months

2025 9/16/25 2025 9/16/25

City of Sunnyvale: Tasty Indian Subs & Pizza

Capacity: 65
Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink & leased dishwasher
Funding Source: Government Grant: City of Sunnyvale
Material: stainless steel
Disposables Avoided: 118,625 (annual)
Cost Savings: $18.036 (annual net)
Break-Even: 6 months

2024 9/16/25 2024 9/16/25

ReThink Disposable: Parra’s

Dishwashing model: 3-compartment sink
Funding Source: None
Material: stainless steel
Disposables Avoided: 41,063 (annual)
Cost Savings: $694 (annual net)
Break-Even: 1.9 months