Latest news with #LisbonCityCouncil
Euronews
03-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Lisbon launches citywide reusable cup scheme to cut plastic waste
Every night, around 25,000 cups are used in Lisbon's entertainment areas. Although many cups are sold as "reusable", until now there was no system in place to ensure the effective collection, cleaning and recirculation of these containers. Through a new citywide reusable cup system, supported by a local deposit and return model, Lisbon has become the first European capital to implement an initiative that aims to combat plastic waste, reduce emissions and introduce a smart reuse model in the city's restaurant sector and bustling nightlife. The first return points operated by TOMRA have been in operation in two of the city's historic kiosks since 27 June. One in Praça de São Paulo and the other in Praça do Príncipe Real. Consumers receive their drinks in reusable cups upon payment of a deposit. This is fully refunded upon return, simply by touching their card or mobile phone to the collection point. Full implementation of the reusable cup system is scheduled for October 2025. The innovative partnership was made between the Lisbon City Council, TOMRA and the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP). Policy with infrastructure The implementation of the system follows Lisbon City Council's 2024 regulation banning the use of disposable plastic cups - a bold measure that requires a robust infrastructure. With TOMRA's scalable technology and strong local buy-in, the city is aiming to make real progress on plastic waste. "Lisbon is committed to leading by example, promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and involving partners in a real change towards more conscious consumption habits," says Rui Cordeiro, Lisbon City Council's councillor for Waste and Circular Economy. "This is a concrete step towards building a culture of reuse in our city and inspiring other municipalities to follow suit." The participation of the catering sector is crucial to the system's success. AHRESP, Portugal's largest hotel and catering association, is supporting cafés, bars and nightclubs in integrating with this new reuse model. "This initiative represents a necessary change for the HORECA (hotel, restaurant, and café)sector, which is now playing an active and central role in the transition to a more circular economy," says Carlos Moura, chairman of the board of AHRESP. "The establishments gain not only a practical solution to respond to the new regulations, but also an opportunity to lead, with consumers, a sustainable and positive change of habits for the city of Lisbon." Live demonstration at MUDE The system was presented during the "Lisbon to Reuse" summit at the Museum of Design and Fashion (MUDE). Participants - including policy-makers, urban planners and environmental leaders - were able to experience how the system works, including the TOMRA return point and the reimbursement process. How does it work? Consumers receive drinks in reusable cups for a refundable deposit of €0.60. The cups can then be returned at TOMRA collection machines throughout the city. No registration is required - simply tap a card or mobile phone with contactless technology to receive the refund. TOMRA manages the logistics, sanitisation and redistribution of the cups, ensuring a continuous and efficient cycle By October, the city will introduce a standardised "Lisbon cup" for all participating bars and establishments in the central neighbourhoods, with 17 return points planned for the Baixa area.
Time Out
29-04-2025
- General
- Time Out
This popular European capital is getting 14 new ‘quiet zones'
Cities are brilliant places, but they can be noisy too, and while having access to green space where you can tap out of the mayhem is important, it can be hard to properly escape from the city's soundtrack. That's why one European capital is launching some new policies. According to a recent study, 13.6 percent of Lisbon's residents (that's around 74,118 people) are exposed to noise levels above 65 decibels specifically due to traffic, but the city council is aiming to change that. Since 2014, an action plan has been in place for the city's noise management, which includes a noise map, and Lisbon currently has 12 areas which can be considered 'quiet zones' – where environmental noise should not exceed 55 decibels during the day, nor 45 at night. However, Lisbon Municipal Assembly has approved an overhaul and that includes more than doubling the number of these zones to 26 in total. Just think: almost 30 spots where all the honking, revving and screeching will feel like it's miles away – sounds lush, right? But it's not just traffic on the roads. Supercasa reports that Lisbon City Council is calling on other bodies, such as the Port of Lisbon and the Portuguese Environment Agency, to also factor in data on maritime and air traffic for the new noise map. So, is this all just to make Lisbon a little more peaceful? Well, yes. The fact is that continuous exposure to high levels of noise can really impact our stress levels and quality of sleep, so making sure noise pollution is kept to a minimum will hopefully improve the lives of locals.
