City of Ghent: Ghent Festival

The Ghent Festival ("Gentse Feesten"), a 10-day annual event in Ghent, Belgium, has pioneered a reuse system for cups and food containers, significantly reducing waste. Since 2018, reusable beverage cups have been mandatory, and in 2022, reusable food containers were added. Supported by Ghent’s government and local businesses, the festival achieved a 95% cup return rate, a 40% reduction in waste per visitor, and substantial cost savings. The initiative highlights the effectiveness of reuse systems in large-scale public events.