Lisbon has become the first European capital to launch a citywide reusable cup system, targeting the reduction of single-use plastic waste across its hospitality and nightlife venues.
The system allows residents and tourists to buy drinks in reusable cups by paying a US 70 (EU€0.60) deposit, which can be refunded by returning the cup to a Tomra machine. The first two machines are located at Praca de Sao Paulo and Praca do Principe Real, with a full rollout planned by October.
Seventeen return points are expected across the city’s downtown neighbourhoods.
“We’re proud to partner with Lisbon on this first-of-its-kind city system in a European capital,” said Geir Saether, head of Tomra Reuse. “The system deployed in Lisbon is designed specifically for urban areas – making reuse easy, clean and rewarding for everyone involved.”
The initiative is a collaboration between the City of Lisbon, reuse technology provider Tomra, and hospitality association AHRESP (Associacao da Hotelaria, Restauracao e Similares de Portugal).
It uses Tomra’s “Rotake” platform to manage cup tracking, collection, cleaning, and redistribution, making reuse seamless in busy city environments.
Waste from nightlife parties targeted
Lisbon’s nightlife generates an estimated 25,000 cups each evening.
Despite some being labelled as reusable, most end up as waste due to a lack of supporting infrastructure. This new system provides the missing link between policy and practical execution.
“This is a concrete step toward building a culture of reuse in our city,” said Rui Cordeiro, city councillor for waste management and circular economy.
“Lisbon is committed to leading by example and promoting sustainable alternatives.”
Hospitality sector backs the shift
AHRESP says it is onboarding cafes, bars, and venues to ensure participation across the hospitality sector.
“This represents a necessary shift for the HoReCa sector,” said Carlos Moura, President of AHRESP.
“It’s a practical solution for regulatory compliance and an opportunity to lead a sustainable change in consumer habits.”
How it works:
The system was introduced during the “Lisboa a Reutilizar” summit at Lisbon’s Museum of Design (Mude), where attendees tested the deposit-return process in real time.
- Customers pay $0.70 for a reusable cup.
- Cups are returned to Tomra machines across the city.
- Refunds are issued instantly via contactless card or phone.
- Tomra handles cleaning and redistribution.
- A standardised “Lisbon Cup” will be used citywide beginning in October.
The project draws inspiration from a pilot in Aarhus, Denmark, where over 1 million cups have been returned with an 85 per cent return rate.
“This isn’t just about cups,” said Saether.
“It’s about changing how cities think about resources. Lisbon is showing that with the right partners and smart policy, reuse can be scaled successfully.”
