In Lisbon, every plastic cup-for-reuse counts

Lisbon in Portugal claims to be making history as the first European capital to roll out a city-wide reusable cup scheme backed by a deposit-return model.

Initiated by city leaders, sorting tech expert Tomra and local bars and clubs, the initiative is tackling plastic waste and bringing a smarter reuse model for single use cups to Lisbon’s nightlife and hospitality sector.

The first Tomra-operated return points were opened in late June in Praça de São Paulo and Praça do Príncipe Real in Lisbon’ historic centre. Customers buying drinks receive them in reusable cups, paying a deposit that is fully refunded upon return – simply by tapping their card or phone at the collection point. Full roll-out of the reusable cup system is planned for October 2025.

Built for urban life

The project is powered by Tomra’s Rotake system, a full-service reuse model including digital tracking, cup collection, sanitation and redistribution. Tomra, which pioneered fully automated reverse vending technology, is managing the entire lifecycle of the cups to ensure efficiency, hygiene and environmental performance.

‘We’re proud to partner with Lisbon on this first-of-its-kind city system in a European capital,’ comments Geir Sæther, head of Tomra Reuse. ‘The system deployed in Lisbon is designed specifically for urban areas making reuse easy, clean and rewarding for everyone involved.’

25 000 cups per night  

Every night, some 25 000 cups are used across Lisbon’s nightlife district. Despite the cups being sold as ‘reusable’, no system has been in place to collect, clean and recirculate them. The roll-out follows a ban on single-use plastic cups, a bold move that required robust infrastructure to succeed.

With Tomra’s scalable system and strong local buy-in, the city is now ready to deliver real impact. ‘Lisbon is committed to leading by example, promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and engaging partners in real change toward more conscious consumption habits,’ says Rui Cordeiro, city councillor for waste management and the

Circular Economy. ‘This is a concrete step toward building a culture of reuse in our city and inspiring other municipalities to follow the same path.’

Major role for bars and clubs

Crucial to the system’s success is participation by the hospitality sector. Portugal’s hospitality industry association Ahresp is helping bring cafés, bars and nightlife venues into the reuse loop. ‘This initiative represents a necessary shift for the hotel/restaurant/catering sector, which now takes on an active and central role in the transition towards a more circular economy,’ says the body’s president Carlos Moura. ‘Establishments not only gain a practical solution to comply with the new regulations, but also an opportunity to lead, together with consumers, a sustainable and positive change in habits for the city of Lisbon.’

How it works

•             Consumers receive drinks in reusable cups for a refundable €0.60 deposit

•             Cups are returned to Tomra collection machines across the city

•             No registration needed – tapping a contactless card or phone prompts a refund

•             Tomra manages logistics, sanitation and redistribution

One cup fits all

By October 2025, the city will introduce a standardised ‘Lisbon Cup’ for all participating bars and venues in the city centre with 17 return points planned across the downtown area.

The Lisbon initiative builds on Tomra’s success in Aarhus, Denmark, where over one million cups have been returned at a rate exceeding 85% within 18 months. Lisbon aims to go even further by setting a benchmark for capital cities across Europe.

‘This is not just about cups; it’s about changing how cities think about resources,’ adds Tomra’s Geir Sæther. ‘Lisbon is showing that with the right partners and smart policy, reuse can be mainstream, modern and massively effective.’