Achill looks to become Mayo's first single-cup free location

Achill may become Mayo's first paper cup free community with Achill Tourism looking for businesses to instead use sustainable and environmentally friendly reusable take-away cups.

With the number of coffee docks and businesses serving take-away teas and coffees growing in the tourist hotspot, Achill Tourism are looking for these businesses to swap their single-use cups for reusable cups which can be used at multiple locations.

The initiative was introduced to members of Achill Tourism at the group’s annual general meeting in The Valley House on Thursday evening.

Manager of Achill Tourism, Chris McCarthy explained that his team in Achill Tourism have been exploring the prospect of making Achill a 'paper cup free' location and have them replaced with their own distinct reusable cup.

“We certainly think it's the way forward,” he told the meeting. “We have been toying with this idea since just after Christmas when one of our coffee retailers stumbled on one of our cups washed in on Keel beach and she pushed the buttons with us to get involved. This is something we are promoting and are trying to start a conversation,” he explained.

Examples of a sustainable cup made by Koziol Germany, a world leader in sustainable production, were handed out to each of the members present, and Mr McCarthy said they believe it is the best product available on the market.

They are made from innovative bio-circular material using used sunflower and rapeseed oils from the catering industry and converted in a special recycling process. The meeting heard that there is no plastic material in the cups and they can be reused up to 1,000 times.

Killarney became the first town in Ireland to ban single use coffee cups in 2023 and implemented the 2GoCup Deposit and Return scheme for takeaway drinks. Up to 45 businesses signed up to the scheme where customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable cup, sit in and enjoy their coffee in a delph cup or avail of 2GoCups for a €2 deposit. This cup can be swapped for a clean cup with their next coffee or dropped into any business for their €2 back.

Mr McCarthy acknowledged that there will be an initial cost to participating businesses and it may take time for people to get used to but believes it is the way forward for the community. 

“It will cost businesses to buy into it but they have this initiative run in Killarney with the 2GoCup campaign. There is all sorts of buy-in to it from businesses with 2GoCup merchandise.

“It is not something we expect to happen this year. It will be something we would like to partner with the environment section of Mayo County Council and hopefully get it across the line,” he said.