Summer is drawing to a close and for the first time all festivals but one have enforced the use of reusable cups. According to the Flemish Waste Agency (OVAM) almost all of these cups have been returned to the festival organisers, which brings significant environmental benefits.
Reusable cups have been mandatory at festivals in Flanders since 15 June 2023 and in Wallonia since 1 September of the same year. While Flemish festivals could still request an exemption from OVAM last year, in 2024 festival-goers drank from reusable cups at all festivals. Tomorrowland, which once again used disposable cups, was the only exception. As a result, the festival faces a daily fine of €500,000, capped at €2 million.
The company Ecocup, which has its Belgian headquarters in Liège reported renting out 20 million cups last year. The 2024 aren’t finalised yet, but are expected to range between 25 to 28 million cups, according to Christophe Lampertz, Ecocup Belgium’s Director.
The environmental benefit is "undeniable" from the moment the cups are reused ten times, stressed OVAM. The Flemish agency's spokesperson Jan Verheyenspecified that this number takes into account the transport of the cups to and from the washing-up facilities, as well as the impact of the washing-up process itself.
OVAM also highlighted the significant reduction of waste. Open-air urban events such as the Ghent Festivities produce up to 40% less residual waste, with street cleaning vehicles collecting up to 60% less rubbish thanks to the use of reusable cups. At closed music festivals, this reduction reaches 63% per visitor. If organisers implement a deposit system, 90 to 95% of cups are returned. Without a deposit, the return rate ranges from 70 to 90%.
