Geocell is a tridimensional confinement structure used for soil reinforcement, which significantly improves the performance of foundation systems. Aiming at a more sustainable engineering project and promoting a correct destination of a residual material, an alternative to fill the geocell is through the use of precious gem processing waste. The performance of geocell reinforcement filled with this granular residue overlying a sand subgrade, as well as the influence of geocell mattress height, have been studied by model tests in the laboratory. The layers were prepared in a test tank and subjected to static loading by a rigid circular footing. Footing load, footing settlement and displacements on the fill surface were measured during the tests. Comparing the tests on unreinforced and reinforced residue layer, the results indicate that the provision of geocell leads to a significant increase in the bearing capacity, presenting improvement factors of bearing capacity of up to 1.7. In addition, the reinforcement provides more uniform settlements and less expressive soil heaves around the footing.