Belfast venues are taking part in the “first multi-venue” pilot in the UK and Ireland to replace single-use plastic cups with reusable alternatives.
The Venue Sustainability Forum (VSF) is leading the 12-month pilot, which aims to remove two million single-use plastic cups from gigs and events in Belfast.
The Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, The SSE Arena, Oh Yeah Centre, Black Box, Voodoo and The MAC have all invested in the scheme and will introduce reusable cups over the course of 2025.
Other venues are set to join the next phase of the citywide rollout, which aims to eliminate 40 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Commenting on the pilot, Iain Bell, Acting Chief Executive of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall, said: “The task force behind this brilliant new initiative, the Venue Sustainability Forum, are setting out to tackle one of the biggest sustainability challenges affecting us all – single-use plastic.
“The switch from glass to plastic remains an important health and safety concern for gigs and entertainment venues, so this is a very positive step towards a solution which addresses both safety and sustainability.”
North Down Marquees will deliver reusable cups to the participating organisations and collect the used cups. The cups will then be washed in a facility in Carryduff before being redistributed again.
The SSE Arena will be the first participating venue to implement the use of reusable cups with the scheme coming into effect from mid-January.
