Lisbon, Nov. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - Several bars in Lisbon's Bairro Alto district will welcome the first network of five reusable plastic glass return machines to combat waste, TOMRA announced today.
“Each reusable plastic glass, if part of a system that minimises loss, replaces a disposable one, avoiding waste, emissions, and the logistics associated with single-use packaging,” said Rui Quadrado, business development manager at TOMRA, a circular economy solutions company and one of the founding organizations of the CopoMais system, in a statement.
In a statement, AHRESP - Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal (Portuguese Association of Hotels, Restaurants, and Similar Establishments) and TOMRA indicate that after the positive results of the test carried out in the summer at the kiosks in Príncipe Real and Praça de São Paulo, it is now the turn of several bars in Bairro Alto to adopt the deposit and return model for reusable plastic glasses.
The initiative, which is the result of a collaboration between the Lisbon City Council, TOMRA Reúse, and AHRESP - Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal, aims to combat plastic waste.
According to TOMRA, consumers receive their drinks in reusable plastic glasses upon payment of a deposit (€0.50), which is fully refunded upon return by simply tapping their card or mobile phone at the collection point.
The initiative also aims to reduce emissions and introduce a smart reuse model in the city's restaurant and nightlife sector.
“This project demonstrates the willingness of the accommodation and catering sectors to work side by side with technological innovation and local authorities. It is very important to see Lisbon's bars and restaurants at the forefront, reducing costs for the community and the planet, while enhancing the customer experience,” said AHRESP president Carlos Moura.
By early 2026, 17 machines are expected to be installed in critical areas of Bairro Alto, i.e., in places with the most bars and restaurants, where most plastic glasses end up in the rubbish.
On nights when more people go out, such as Fridays and weekends, around 25,000 plastic glasses are used in Lisbon's entertainment areas, making it the first European capital to implement a city-wide reusable cup system, according to TOMRA.
“Although many cups are sold as ‘reusable,’ until now there has been no system in place to ensure the effective collection, cleaning, and recirculation of these containers,” says the technology company.
The implementation of the system follows the 2024 regulation by the Lisbon City Council prohibiting the use of disposable plastic glasses.
The glass system has become a solution for owners who have been affected by the legislation.
“We realised that without a system in place, we would not achieve any environmental gains, the plastic glasses would continue to litter the streets. The CopoMais system facilitates compliance with municipal regulations without compromising logistics or customer satisfaction,” said Bar El Latino owner Ricardo Tavares, one of five establishments in Bairro Alto that sell drinks in CoposMais cups.
The system was presented during the “Lisboa a Reutilizar” summit at the Museum of Design and Fashion (MUDE).
In June, a pilot project for the system was launched with two machines, one in Praça do Príncipe Real and the other in Largo de São Paulo, in Lisbon.
The test lasted 54 days, and 14,000 cups were returned, representing a return rate of 95%.
The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, said in a statement that he hopes more places will be able to “make reuse the new normal.”
DD/ADB. // ADB.
Lusa
