Say cheers with a reusable cup?

Cork City Council has backed a new plan to introduce reusable cup schemes at concerts and major events across the city.

The motion, brought forward by Labour Cllr Ciara O’Connor, received full support from her colleagues at this week’s council meeting.

“A practical step towards cutting single-use plastics and protecting our environment,” said Cllr O’Connor, welcoming plans for deposit-and-return reusable cups at events including Live at the Marquee, Virgin Media Park, and Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Under the new scheme, Cork City Council will work closely with event promoters and local partners to provide collection points, run awareness campaigns, and manage recycling partnerships to ensure the scheme has maximum impact.

The initiative aims to significantly reduce single-use plastics and encourage sustainability at public gatherings across Cork and the wider region.

Cllr O’Connor said: “Single-use plastics have no place at our events — we can celebrate and enjoy concerts while protecting our environment. I’m delighted that Cork City Council is collaborating with event promoters and local groups to make reusable cup schemes a reality.”

The project follows the Cork City Climate Action Plan 2024–2029, which calls for phasing out single-use beverage cups at licenced events and promoting reusable alternatives.

It is part of a regional pilot programme led by the Southern Region Waste Management Office, involving Cork City, Cork County, Kerry, and Waterford local authorities. IRD Duhallow will manage the storage and washing of the reusable cups, with the official launch scheduled for early November.

She also highlighted the importance of public engagement. “Success will depend on strong cooperation between event organisers, local volunteers, and attendees. We’re empowering concert-goers to help reduce waste, cut emissions, and keep our city cleaner.”

It’s another example of Cork leading by example in climate action. The scheme supports Cork City Council’s wider goals of reducing single-use plastics, promoting circular economy practices, and moving towards climate neutrality by 2030.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.