In a statement, AHRESP - the Portuguese Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Establishments - and TOMRA, a company specialising in circular economy solutions, indicate that after the positive results of the summer test conducted near kiosks in Príncipe Real and Praça de São Paulo, it is now the turn of several bars in Bairro Alto to adopt the reusable cup deposit and return model.

According to TOMRA, consumers receive their drinks in reusable cups, upon payment of a deposit [0.60 cents] which is fully refunded upon return, simply by tapping their card or mobile phone on the collection point.

The initiative, a collaboration between the Lisbon City Council, TOMRA Reuse, and AHRESP - the Portuguese Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Establishments, aims to combat plastic waste.

It also intends to reduce emissions and introduce a smart reuse model in the city's restaurant and nightlife sectors.

The system is powered by TOMRA's 'Rotake' technology, a complete reuse model that includes digital tracking, cup collection, sanitization, and redistribution.

The company manages the entire lifecycle of the cups to ensure efficiency, hygiene, and environmental performance, adding that approximately 25,000 cups are used every night in Lisbon's entertainment areas.

"Although many cups are sold as 'reusable,' until now there was no system to ensure the effective collection, cleaning, and recirculation of these containers," it concludes.

The implementation of the system follows the 2024 Lisbon City Council regulation prohibiting the use of disposable plastic cups.

The system was presented during the "Lisbon to Reuse" summit at the Museum of Design and Fashion (MUDE).