A initiative led by IRD Duhallow is aiming to significantly reduce single-use waste at community events and festivals across the Southern Region, with a reusable cup system now being rolled out.
The project forms part of wider national efforts under the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy, which is focused on increasing reuse and reducing the environmental impact of everyday activities across Ireland.
At the centre of the initiative is a newly established cup washing and reuse facility at IRD Duhallow. The facility allows cups used at events to be professionally washed, dried and returned into circulation, with each cup capable of being reused up to 300 times. The aim is to dramatically reduce the volume of single-use waste generated at local events and festivals.
The scheme is designed specifically for not-for-profit community events, making it easier for organisers to move away from disposable cups without adding unnecessary cost or logistical burden. Organisers can now rent pint cups, half pint cups, and hot beverage cups with or without lids depending on the requirements of their event.
Once used, the cups are collected and returned to the IRD Duhallow facility, where they are processed, cleaned and prepared for reuse. The system is designed to create a simple loop that keeps materials in circulation for as long as possible.
IRD Duhallow is playing a central role in the delivery of the initiative, managing the full wash, dry and storage process, and providing the infrastructure needed to support reuse at scale. The programme is being supported through the 2025 Anti-Dumping funding initiative.
Those involved in the project say reusable cup schemes like this can make a real difference at community level, helping to reduce reliance on single-use plastics, cut down on litter in towns and villages, and support a more sustainable approach to event planning. It is also seen as a practical example of how circular economy principles can be applied in a local setting without changing the character of community events.
The service is available to non-profit organisations hosting small-scale events across Carlow, Clare, Cork City and County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.
The initiative is being viewed as a step forward in supporting greener community events, with IRD Duhallow providing the practical infrastructure needed to make reuse both simple and achievable.
