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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Reducing Waste, One Cup at a Time

    Topics:
    • Resource & Waste Policy, 
    • Prevention & Re-use

    DAERA has launched a public campaign to encourage the use of reusable cups to help reduce waste.

    Single use products are designed to be used once—and then thrown away. But that “quick and convenient” moment leaves a lasting impact. No matter what they’re made from, single use products create waste, which is a global problem affecting our environment, wildlife and even our health.

    Image to encourage bringing a reusable cup and making it part of daily routine

    It is estimated that 250,000 disposable cups can be found littering our streets at any one time.

    Most disposable cups, even those with a paper outer layer, contain a plastic lining to withstand hot liquids which makes them extremely difficult to recycle.

    By switching to reusable alternatives, we can support a more circular economy—one where materials are reused, repaired, and recycled to keep products in use for longer and reduce what ends up in landfill.

    To help drive this change, this media campaign focuses on reducing our reliance on single-use cups by adding a reusable cup to people's checklist before leaving the house - keys, phone, money, cup. 

    Choosing to bring your own cup is a simple way to reduce waste every single day.

    Running from 20 April to 3 May 2026, and aligning with Earth Day on 22 April, this campaign is a reminder that prevention and reuse are crucial to tackling our throwaway culture.

    You can see the campaign featured on billboards and social media.

    #Let’sMakeEverySipSustainable

    #FromDisposableToSustainable: RethinkingOurCups

     

    Related content

    • Environment Grants
    • Waste Prevention Interventions
    • Waste Prevention: Reuse
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