BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Belfast is making history as the first city in Ireland and the UK to commit to eliminating single-use plastic cups in entertainment venues. This city-wide initiative, led by the Venue Sustainability Forum and supported by Visit Belfast, will see major and grassroots venues switch to reusable cups over the next 12 months.

Participating venues include the SSE Arena, Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, Oh Yeah Centre, Black Box, Voodoo, and The MAC, with additional venues lined up for the next phase of the rollout. The ambitious project aims to eliminate an estimated two million single-use cups annually, significantly reducing plastic waste and setting an example for other cities to follow.

How it works

The scheme relies on a closed-loop system for managing reusable cups. North Down Marquees, a local company, will handle delivery and collection. After use, the cups will be taken to a central washing facility in Carryduff, sanitized, and redistributed back to the venues.

The first to adopt the system will be the SSE Arena, where reusable cups are expected to debut by mid-January. “[We] are proud to be the first venue involved in the trial,” said Dermot McGinn, group head of food and beverage at The Odyssey Trust, which manages the arena. “This initiative supports a more sustainable future for entertainment in Northern Ireland.”

A collaborative effort across Belfast

The initiative has garnered enthusiastic support from a wide range of venues, each emphasizing the importance of sustainability in their operations.

• Waterfront Hall and Ulster Hall: Iain Bell, acting chief executive of these venues, described the effort as a step forward in addressing “one of the biggest sustainability challenges affecting us all—single-use plastic.” He highlighted the dual benefit of maintaining safety at gigs while prioritizing sustainability.
• Oh Yeah Centre: Chief executive Charlotte Dryden celebrated the initiative as a “brilliant success” for Belfast and its music community. “Sustainability is at the top of not just our organization’s agenda but also our community’s agenda,” she said.
• Black Box: Director Kathryn McShane echoed this sentiment, sharing how the venue had been seeking alternatives to single-use plastics for years. “This scheme will drastically reduce our waste and allow our audiences to make more sustainable choices,” she noted.
• The MAC: Facilities manager Emmett Ross described the project as aligning perfectly with the organization’s 2025/26 focus on “Climate in Action.” He praised the collaborative nature of the scheme, saying, “This city-wide initiative shows what can be achieved when organizations have a joint ambition to make a positive change for the future.”

Big impact, bigger ambitions

The reusable cup initiative is expected to remove 40 tonnes of plastic waste annually from Belfast’s nightlife. According to Jac Callan, senior manager of sustainability and impact at Visit Belfast, this “innovative” project showcases the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship across its diverse venues.

But the success of this ambitious plan hinges on collaboration and public participation. As Wilton Farrelly, chair of the Venue Sustainability Forum, noted, “It’s not just about removing plastic—it’s about creating a cultural shift where sustainability becomes second nature for businesses and individuals alike.”

Why it matters

The environmental impact of single-use plastics is undeniable, with discarded plastic cups contributing to mounting pollution and waste. For cities like Belfast, which prides itself on vibrant nightlife and cultural offerings, adopting sustainable practices isn’t just a necessity—it’s an opportunity to lead by example.

Belfast as a sustainability leader

With this bold initiative, Belfast is not only setting a new standard for entertainment venues in Ireland and the UK but also demonstrating how collective action can drive meaningful change.

By replacing single-use plastics with reusable solutions, the city is taking a critical step toward reducing waste and safeguarding the environment for future generations. As venues and audiences alike embrace the new system, Belfast’s nightlife is poised to become not just lively but also remarkably green.