Belgian officials say organisers of the electronic festival were committing an environmental crime by using disposable cups. Tomorrowland disagrees.
ADVERTISEMENTElectronic festival Tomorrowland is facing a fine that could reach €2 million for using disposable cups during this year's event.
According to the Flemish Environmental Agency, reusable cups were only used in certain areas of the festival - such as the VIP space.
Tomorrowland, which is one of the world's biggest electro events, took place this summer in Antwerp, Belgium, from 19 to 28 July.
In Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, event organisers must serve drinks in reusable containers or those made of mostly-recycled material. This has been the case since June 2023.
A spokesperson for the Flemish Environmental Agency told Euronews that a judge must now decide whether Tomorrowland's case will be handled as a criminal or civil matter.
Additional fine may be given
On top of the penalty which could amount to €2 million, officials confirmed that Tomorrowland may face an extra fee to erase the money it saved by using disposable cups.
"Our inspectors have estimated the costs Tomorrowland has saved by not complying with the rules," said the Flemish Environmental Agency.
"This 'capital gain' is provisionally estimated by the supervisors…to be more than €1.5 million. This can be recovered and is in addition to the fine."
While the case is pending, the Flemish Environmental Agency said that the official report against Tomorrowland cannot be released. Tomorrowland organisers told Euronews they have not yet seen the report.
Permission to use up left-over stock
In order to use up existing stocks of disposable cups, Tomorrowland this year applied for an exemption to Flanders' environmental rule.
The organisers' request was rejected in April.
"In 2022, we purchased cups for use during Tomorrowland in the summers of 2023 and 2024, which was allowed under the regulations in place at that time," the festival explained in a statement.
As the left-over stock amounted to 3 million cups, organisers argued that it would be environmentally detrimental to "switch entirely to a system of reusable cups in 2024".
"It is important to emphasise that Tomorrowland does not place itself above the law," the festival said, “but we find it crucial to achieve effective environmental benefits over certain principles".
Logistical difficulties
Commenting on the matter in April this year, Tomorrowland also stressed that offering reusable cups requires a large amount of extra planning.
ADVERTISEMENTReusable cups, for instance, take up more storage space than disposable cups, and they also throw up hygiene issues.
Tomorrowland said that it doesn't currently have the space or the capacity at the festival to wash cups, and that self-washing stations "cause a very difficult flow at the bars".
