Reusable Cups
The SSE Arena, Belfast is trialling the use of reusable cups to reduce single-use plastic waste as part of the venue's commitment to minimising its environmental impact and providing a more sustainable experience for customers.
The Journey So Far
The SSE Arena is participating in a citywide trial of reusable cups. The trial aims to eliminate 40 tonnes of plastic annually and remove two million single-use plastic cups from nights out in Belfast. Reusable cups help to significantly reduce single-use waste and the environmental impact of large-scale events. This initiative also contributes to broader efforts to make entertainment in Belfast more sustainable.
While The SSE Arena currently achieves zero-waste-to-landfill status, a recent indoor venue report on sustainable cups from Julie’s Bicycle revealed that reusable cups have a lower environmental impact than single-use ones, with the most eco-friendly option being to wash cups off-site at a facility within 50km of the venue.
The SSE Arena has been exploring this scheme since 2018, aligning with the timeframe when other venues began implementing similar initiatives. However, the absence of a nearby wash plant in Northern Ireland made the scheme unviable.
To address this challenge, we made a significant capital investment and partnered with key stakeholders to establish the infrastructure needed for this initiative. This resulted in the opening of a state-of-the-art washing facility in Carryduff. With this facility now operational, venues across Belfast can provide customers with a sustainable alternative to single-use cups.
The £1 levy was introduced as a transparent approach to funding the scheme. As the largest venue participating in Belfast’s citywide reusable cup trial, the £1 levy is necessary to cover the operational costs associated with the initiative. These costs include the cleaning and sanitising of cups and their transport to and from the dedicated washing facility in Carryduff. Without this levy, offering this sustainable option would not be possible.
We will continuously review the scheme throughout 2025 to ensure it aligns with our sustainability objectives and delivers measurable impact. Your feedback is important to us and welcome.
Thank you for helping us to reduce waste and supporting a better future for Belfast.
How it Works
Order your drink and receive it in a reusable cup. Your first drink includes a non-refundable £1 levy.
Bring your cup back to a concession unit or bar and receive a fresh cup for every further drink you order.
Drop your cup at a designated collection point after use.
Cups are washed and sanitised for future events.
Thank you for helping us to reduce waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are trialling reusable pint and half-pint cups as part of a citywide initiative to reduce single-use plastic waste. This is part of our commitment to minimising our environmental impact and providing a more sustainable experience for our customers.
The scheme aims to remove two million single-use plastic cups from nights out in Belfast and eliminate 40 tonnes of plastic waste annually. We will continually review the trial to ensure it meets our sustainability goals.
All drinks, except soft and hot drinks, will be served in reusable cups. A non-refundable £1 levy will be added to your first purchase. Please note that a £1 levy will apply to each drink in your first order.
Bring your cup back to a concession unit or bar and receive a fresh cup for every further drink you order, with no further levy. Please return your cup at the designated collection points when exiting the venue.
The £1 levy is a one-off charge that will be applied to the price of your first drink. If you do not present your reusable cup when purchasing additional drinks, a further £1 levy will be applied to the price of your drink(s).
Having made a significant financial contribution to establish the necessary infrastructure for this initiative, the £1 levy was introduced as a transparent approach to funding the scheme. As the largest venue participating in Belfast’s citywide reusable cup trial, the £1 levy is necessary to cover the operational costs associated with the initiative. These costs include the cleaning and sanitising of cups and their transport to and from the dedicated washing facility in Carryduff. Without this levy, offering this sustainable option would not be possible.
Any surplus funds raised beyond these operational requirements will be invested in The Odyssey Trust’s sitewide charitable and green initiatives. These initiatives will be focused on promoting sustainability, reducing environmental impact, and driving meaningful, long-term change.
No, the £1 levy is mandatory for all customers who purchase a drink (beer, cider, wine, spirits, alcopops, pre-mixed cocktails, or non-alcoholic beer) at food and beverage outlets. The levy does not apply to soft and hot drinks, which are already served in recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable paper cups.
Simply bring your reusable cup to one of our concession units or bars. There will be no additional levy for customers who wish to switch to a different drink type. Please note that the £1 levy does not apply to refills or soft drinks and hot drinks, which will continue to be served in recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable paper cups.
For operational and hygiene purposes, we only permit the use of cups provided by the venue. Before being reused at events, all cups are professionally cleaned and sanitised to the highest standards.
We encourage you to support this trial by returning cups at designated collection points when you exit the venue. Please do not leave the venue with a reusable cup.
Cups can be deposited at clearly designated collection points located throughout the venue.
As this is a trial, the cups will be used at all Belfast Giants home games, as well as the majority of events and concerts. This does not include self-order food and beverage outlets. Soft and hot drinks will continue to be served in paper cups that are recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable.
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