Scheme saves 105 tonnes of carbon and avoids 30 tonnes of waste.
A pilot scheme across Belfast has removed 1.5 million single-use plastic cups from gigs and events, saved 105 tonnes of carbon and avoided 30 tonnes of waste. It has now been made permanent.
In January 2025, six Belfast venues, working with North Down Marquees and More, launched the first multi-venue reusable cup scheme in the UK and Ireland. The founding members have now committed to a longer-term contract, and further large-scale events and arenas have signed up.
The scheme is driven by the Venue Sustainability Forum (VSF) and supported by Visit Belfast. Founding partners are the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, The O2 Belfast, Oh Yeah Centre, Black Box and The MAC, all of which invested in the pilot and introduced reusable cups at their events.
It has since been rolled out to Horatio Todds at the Balmoral Show and to the national stadium for Northern Ireland men’s international football matches.
North Down Marquees and More, the scheme’s operations partner, supplied the cups, collected them after use and washed and returned them ready to go again. To support the scheme’s growth, the company has bought the equipment it previously rented and introduced a new cup design carrying a sustainability message to encourage more people to take part.
Rachael McGuckian, Deputy CEO and Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation at Visit Belfast, said:
“Taking 1.5 million single-use cups out of circulation in under two years is a real result for Belfast. It happened because our events industry chose to work together and invest in a shared solution.”
“When a visitor is handed the same reusable cup at multiple events venues across the city, it sends a clear message: Belfast is serious about cutting waste and carbon.”
“We look forward to seeing more venues and events join the initiative, so that reuse becomes the default rather than the exception. Together with businesses, residents and visitors, we can change everyday habits and build a cleaner, more sustainable city.”
Stephen Murray, Chair of the Venue Sustainability Forum, said:
“Single-use plastic cups take hundreds of years to break down and end up in landfill and in the ocean. We’re pleased the pilot returned such positive findings and proud it has been made permanent with more partners signing up.
“None of this would have happened without the founding organisations, and without the public, who bought into the scheme by returning their cups.”
AD Sustainability, a specialist local environmental consultancy, conducted a high-level life cycle analysis of the scheme. Founder Adrian Davis said:
“From the available data, reusable cups beat single-use cups on carbon emissions after just 2 uses. Looked after, these cups can be reused hundreds of times, so the cumulative benefit keeps growing.
“The scheme only works when everyone plays their part by returning cups to the collection points at participating venues. It’s a small change in behaviour with a large effect on waste and carbon.
“Running it over the longer term will deliver further benefits for the venues and support the Northern Ireland Executive’s circular economy, carbon reduction and resource efficiency strategies.”
