Tomorrowland faces €727,200 fine for non-reusable plastic cups
The Tomorrowland music festival faces a fine of 727,200 euros for failing to use reusable cups during last summer's edition. This was confirmed on Wednesday by the Flemish environmental department. The festival can still appeal against the fine.
Tomorrowland did not use reusable cups at last summer's edition of the festival, despite Flemish legislation requiring all events to do so. Unlike in 2023, the festival did not receive an exemption from the Flemish government.
"Tomorrowland is a fantastic festival that is also a small multinational. With a name like that, you should be a champion of good environmental policy," former Environment minister Zuhal Demir said at the time.
The festival said it wanted to use up its existing stock of disposable cups first, and claimed there were practical problems with reusable cups. The festival also pointed out that many festival-goers like to take these reusable cups home with them, causing additional problems.
One-off offense
Tomorrowland originally faced a fine of two million euros. The fine has been reduced to 727,200 euros because it was a one-off environmental offence and the organiser plans to use reusable cups in 2025, Ann Heylens of the Environment Department told VRT NWS.
The amount is divided into two parts. The first part is the so-called 'deprivation of benefits', which amounts to 700,000 euros. This is based on a calculation that nullifies the financial benefit of not applying the legislation. In this way, the Environmental department wants to create a level playing field for all festivals. The other part is the fine itself, another 27,200 euros.
Tomorrowland has 30 days to appeal the fine. At the time of writing, it has not commented on the decision.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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