Belfast venues to ban single-use plastic cups

A number of entertainment venues in Belfast are set to pilot a scheme that will see the removal of plastic cups at gigs and events this year.

The initiative will last 12 months and is being led by the Venue Sustainability Forum and is supported by Visit Belfast.

Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, SSE Arena, Oh Yeah Centre, Black Box, Voodoo and The MAC have all committed to the scheme and as a result will introduce reusable cups over the coming months.

“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.,” said acting chief executive of ICC Belfast, Waterfront Hall, and Ulster Hall Iain Bell, as reported by BBC.

The venues will partner with event equipment supplier North Down Marquees which will deliver reusable cups to venues and collect used ones. These will then be cleaned in a central washing facility before being redistributed.

The SSE Arena will be the first participating venue to implement the use of reusable cups starting later this month.

“We are committed to providing customers with the best experience every time while also minimising our environmental impact wherever possible,” said Dermot McGinn, group head of food and beverage at The Odyssey Trust, which helps to run SSE Arena.

“We are pleased to work alongside other forward-thinking venues to tackle single-use plastic waste and support a more sustainable future for entertainment in Northern Ireland.”