About the REUSEABLE project
The REUSEABLE system is brought to you through a collaboration between TOMRA Reuse, a unit of the Norwegian corporation TOMRA, and the Municipality of Aarhus. We are proud to have introduced the world’s first city-wide reusable packaging system in Aarhus, providing a convenient way to save resources, reduce waste and promote a cleaner city environment.
Denmark goes through nearly 300 million disposable cups each year. Within minutes, these cups find their way into trash cans or end up as litter.
The Municipality of Aarhus is leading a trailblazing effort to reduce single-use packaging. In Aarhus, approximately half the waste collected from street cleaning and public waste bins is from takeaway food packaging. To-go cups are one of the top-ranking items – a number that the city is determined to change.
Together with local restaurants and cafes, the Municipality of Aarhus and circular economy experts from TOMRA collaborated to create a new reusable takeaway packaging system designed for the city center. The three-year trial kicked off on January 17, 2024 with the introduction of reusable to-go cups, and the plan is to expand the offering to include other common types of takeaway food containers.
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Payment system partners
The payment technology utilized in our automated REUSEABLE collection machines is enabled through a collaboration with Visa, MasterCard and Shift4. This offers a fast, convenient and secure way for you to redeem the deposit on the REUSEABLE packaging you return at our machines. All you need to do is simply tap your contactless payment credential (card, phone, smartwatch, etc.) on the machine scanner, and then the deposit amount of the items you return will automatically be transferred to your account.
More relevant information
Have questions?
We have answers.
Reuseable packaging is still new to the restaurant scene, so it’s natural to have questions. We’ve put together a ist of common questions about the REUSEABLE system, hygiene standards and how to participate.
Aarhus Municipality recognizes its role in curbing litter and preserving a clean cityscape. Addressing the rising demand for a unified reusable packaging system among businesses and residents, the municipality has launched an experiment. This initiative aims to simplify eco-conscious choices for companies and Aarhusianers.
The REUSEABLE system stands out as he world's pioneering open urban space solution for reusable takeaway packaging. This innovative system transcends boundaries, offering compatibility across restaurants, cafés, and all food takeaway services, catering to both Aarhus citizens and visitors alike without any need for special apps or personal registration.
With proper care, a plastic cup can be reused hundreds of times, making it a sustainable and long-lasting option.
TOMRA operates a professional sanitization service in Aarhus that rigorously sanitizes the REUSEABLE packaging, meeting the stringent standards set by relevant food and safety authorities.
The cups are made from PP, known as polypropylene. This durable plastic is designed for prolonged use and can withstand repeated washing. Once the cups reach the end of their usable life or cannot be reused for other reasons, the material can be recycled.
Here is a map displaying the locations of reuse collection points in Aarhus city center: Map
Unfortunately, this isn’t feasible currently because these actions fall under two distinct return systems. The deposit return system for cans and bottles has specific limitations on acceptable packaging, and to-go or takeaway packaging cannot be processed within the system at present.
Unfortunately, consumers cannot return their used REUSEABLE cups to their nearest cafes due to several reasons:
- The cups must undergo proper sanitization as per the strict standards mandated by food and safety authorities. TOMRA provides a professional sanitization service in Aarhus for this purpose.
- Some cafes prefer not to handle or receive dirty packaging across the counter or manage the washing of used cups.
- Allowing the return of cups directly to cafes increases the risk of theft or fraudulent attempts involving the 5 kr. deposit, posing challenges in managing deposit payments at the cafe level.
The 5 kroner deposit per cup is valid for a period of one year from the moment you purchase your to-go drink in a REUSEABLE cup.
Disposable cardboard cups, containing both cardboard and a plastic wrap (PLA liner), are very hard to recycle, hence normally these are incinerated. Opting for a reusable plastic cup can cut CO2 emissions by more than 70% compared to disposables (Eunomia 2023). In addition to that, reusable packaging with a return incentive solves a major littering problem.
A reusable plastic cup used in this system needs to be reused a minimum of six times in order to have a lower greenhouse gas impact than a disposable cup (Eunomia 2023). Right from its first use however, a reusable cup will help to reduce litter.
When ordering your to-go drink, opt for the reusable cup available at your favorite shop by paying an additional 5 kr. deposit. Once you’ve finished your drink, simply locate the nearest reuse collection point within the city. Once you are there, simply tap your debit/credit card, Apple/Google Watch, or phone to return the cup via the designated machine. The 5 kr. deposit per cup will be refunded to your bank account.
Washing a reusable cup requires approximately 50 ml of water/cup, whereas the production of a disposable cardboard cup demands around 250 ml of water.
Taking the whole reuse value chain into consideration, opting for a reusable plastic cup can cut CO2 emissions by more than 70% compared to disposables (Eunomia 2023). In addition to that, to reduce CO2 emissions, the cups are collected and delivered using electric cars and bicycles.
Here is a map highlighting locations where you can select your preferred cup: Map
Typically, it takes up to two business days for the deposit value to be available in your bank account, though in some cases, the refund may process even quicker.