Fingal County Council is taking a stand against disposable culture by launching the Fingal Reusable Cup Project in two of its most vibrant communities. This will see residents in the coastal towns of Malahide and Rush being asked to go disposable cup free by November 2025 and to join a bold new chapter in sustainable, waste-free living.
The Fingal Reusable Cup Project is more than just a council-led plan; it’s a cross-sector collaboration that’s bringing together public and private players, local volunteers, environmental advocates, community groups and retailers. Think: baristas, tidy towns volunteers, parish councils, sports clubs, schools, chambers of commerce, all working side-by-side toward one shared goal: no more disposable cups.
Fingal is kicking off the six-month pilot powered by reusable cup tech experts and not-for-profit social enterprise VYTAL. Participating cafés in Rush and Malahide will offer free reusable takeaway cups for those who don’t already own one of their own. Customers can simply borrow a VYTAL cup to enjoy their drink and then return it at any participating location within 14 days, for free.
Launching the initiative, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch this in Fingal. By working directly with local communities, volunteers and retailers, we’re building something sustainable and scalable. This is climate action that feels good — and tastes like good coffee.”
Welcoming the approach, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’ Brien TD, said: “Changing the culture of disposables in Ireland will take time and effort, but initiatives like this demonstrate a strong appetite for climate action from local government, retailers, communities, and customers alike. This project is a leading example of circularity in action, and I commend Fingal County Council for its leadership and commitment to reducing unnecessary waste.”
“We have been looking for a feasible solution that works for us as a business and for our customers to reduce our carbon footprint. We are delighted to take part in this project and encourage all businesses to get on board”, said Alan Purcell, owner of Seomra Tae in Malahide.
“As a local tidy town representative, I am proud of Rush and how enthusiastic our retailers have been. We are very excided to get started and will continue to promote this project over the pilot period to local businesses and customers”, said Vanessa Hetherington.