Cuba Dupa
Reuse in Action: CubaDupa’s First Reuse Zone
CubaDupa 2025 marked a turning point for reuse at festivals.
In partnership with FillGood, the iconic street festival introduced its first ever Reuse Zone – transforming how food and drink were served across the bustling Kai Court. The bold step was more than a trial, it was proof that reuse works at scale, even in the heart of an open, high-foot-traffic event.
System Highlights
13,000+ reusable items circulated across food vendors and bars
94% return rate at a major open-site festival
Seamless integration with leading vendors, including Garage Project and Fortune Favours
FillGood’s onsite wash trailer served as a visible and central Reuse HQ
Custom return bins and signage guided the flow across the festival
Supported by an experienced onsite reuse crew to keep the system running smooth
Why It Worked
The Reuse Zone model was key to making reuse seamless, visible, and successful at Cuba Dupa.
By concentrating the system within a defined area - the Kai Court – FillGood was able to fully integrate reuse into every food and beverage interaction. This zoning approach meant festival-goers could easily understand where and how to return items, vendors could operate within one clear framework, and the reuse crew could maintain a tight loop of collection, cleaning, and redistribution.
At the bars, a super simple cup system was introduced. Customers were served in FillGood reusable cups and returned them to clearly marked bins or staffed return points. This simple loop kept return rates high and logistics smooth.
The Reuse Zone was backed by the visible presence of FillGood’s mobile wash trailer, bold signage across the festival, and an experienced reuse crew from Nonstop Solutions – ensuring minimal got lost in the noise of the festival.
With the right infrastructure in the right place, reuse wasn’t just possible, it was easy, efficient, and enthusiastically embraced by vendors and punters alike.
Want to bring a Reuse Zone to your event?
Let’s talk.
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