Case Studies

Real schools. Real results.

These aren't projections. They're real outcomes from schools that made the switch to Ahimsa stainless steel — from single elementary buildings to the 10th-largest district in the country.

11M trays

single-use trays eliminated per year

Palm Beach County School District

Palm Beach County, FL · 10th-largest district in the U.S.

  • Trays paid for themselves in just 2.5 months
  • ~$1M in recurring costs saved annually
  • Dishwashing runs ~$3 per school per day — no added staff
  • $3,000–$4,000 net savings per school after payoff

Model: On-site dishwashers

2.37M items

single-use items eliminated per year

Fremont Unified School District

Fremont, CA · 10 K–5 schools

  • 32,983 lbs of waste diverted annually
  • 10 schools — no on-site dishwashers needed
  • Zero on-site infrastructure changes
  • Off-site washing partner handles everything

Model: Off-site washing (Dishjoy)

$12,929/yr

total annual net cost savings

Arlington Public Schools

Arlington, MA · 4 schools

  • 315,436 disposable items cut per year
  • 3.6 tons of waste eliminated annually
  • 7.4-month payback on reusables & bulk condiments
  • Student-led from day one (Slash the Trash + Climate Club)

Model: On-site commercial dishwashers · MassDEP micro-grant

$11,777/yr

total annual net cost savings

Bedford Public Schools

Bedford, MA · 2,500 students

  • $20,700/yr in estimated waste-hauling savings
  • 261,720 single-use items eliminated
  • Almost 3 tons of waste cut annually
  • Full ROI within one school year

Model: On-site commercial dishwashers

$13,064/yr

net savings in Phase One

Berkeley Unified School District

Berkeley, CA · 3 schools (Phase One)

  • 170,000 single-use items eliminated per year
  • 3.3 tons of waste diverted annually
  • 9 single-use items replaced with 4 reusables
  • Scaling to 9 schools in Phase Two (~$39K/yr)

Model: On-site dishwashers · funded by Plastic Free Restaurants

3.2 months

payback on reusable foodware

Harrington Elementary School

Lexington, MA · 363 students

  • $3,696 total annual net cost savings
  • 175,500 single-use items eliminated
  • 2 tons of waste cut annually
  • New energy-efficient dishwasher, grant-funded

Model: On-site (grant-funded)

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