Belfast Venues to Phase Out Plastic Cups

Belfast's entertainment venues, including the SSE Arena, Ulster Hall, and Waterfront Hall, are launching a pilot scheme aimed at eliminating single-use plastic cups by introducing reusable alternatives. The initiative, spearheaded by the Venue Sustainability Forum and supported by Visit Belfast, seeks to remove around 2 million plastic cups from circulation, significantly reducing annual plastic waste. The SSE Arena will be the first to implement the scheme, with reusable cups expected to be in use by mid-January. North Down Marquees will handle the logistics of delivering and cleaning the cups, creating a sustainable cycle. Venue leaders emphasize the dual benefits of this initiative for both safety and environmental sustainability. Other venues are anticipated to join the program in subsequent phases, marking a significant step in waste reduction for Northern Ireland's entertainment sector.