Even after a third request, Tomorrowland will not receive an exception from Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) to use disposable cups. “If other festivals can do it, so can Tomorrowland.”
The annual dance festival Tomorrowland will once again be given no exception to serve drinks in disposable cups to festival goers. After two previous exception requests in February and March, there is now a third request from the Demir cabinet.
“Every organizer has known what the legislation is for more than a year and I do not think it is appropriate to grant an exception to one organization,” says the minister. “All other organizers apparently took sufficient initiatives to comply with the legislation. I therefore confirm the legislation for the third time, without exception.”
READ ALSO. Why Tomorrowland is about the only festival that will not work with reusable cups this summer
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Since June last year, drinks may only be offered in reusable cups at events. The government introduced this measure to steadily reduce the consumption of single-use plastic drinking cups and food packaging and to promote reuse.
Last year there was an exceptional measure for events that still had a stock of disposable cups, which Tomorrowland and other festivals used. But since this year, that rule has been abolished and the exception only applies if it can be demonstrated that no environmental benefit can be achieved.
Multinational
Demir therefore thinks it is a shame that Tomorrowland requested an exception to that measure, while Graspop, Pukkelpop and Rock Werchter do work with reusable cups. “In addition to being a fantastic festival, Tomorrowland is also a small multinational. With such a name and fame you should be a champion of good environmental policy. A Tomorrowland with a ‘Yesterday approach’ in terms of the environment? As far as I’m concerned, that’s unacceptable.”
Tomorrowland is not yet available for comment.
Tags: exception Tomorrowland disposable cups Yesterdays environmental approach Boom
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