Reusable cups with a deposit system at large events cut single-use waste and keep cups circulating.
To avoid waste, reusable cups are used at large events held at the venue. The system works with a deposit, so users have a financial incentive not to discard the “valuable” cups but to return them at dedicated collection points. This makes the cups circulate through multiple events instead of being thrown away after a single use, while also keeping the site visibly cleaner during and after busy nights. The approach is in line with the Flemish legislation on drink and food packaging, which actively pushes the events sector towards reusable alternatives.
Sustainability added value: Replacing single-use cups with a deposit-based reusable system drastically reduces residual waste at events and cuts the resource, energy, and CO₂ footprint of cup production. Fewer cups end up on the floor or in mixed waste, lowering cleaning effort and disposal costs. By embedding this practice as standard for large events, the venue normalises reusables and sets a concrete example for circular hospitality at scale.
More info https://ovam.vlaanderen.be/afval-praktijkvoorbeelden-en-tips (only in Dutch)