Every year 12 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean, killing 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and a million sea birds. Plastic will soon be a bigger contributor to climate change than aviation and shipping put together. 7 million single use paper cups a day get thrown away in the UK! Disposable cups and lids are either made of plastic or bio-plastic (PLA) and are single-use and non-recyclable. They are used for an average of 15 minutes before being binned. Half a million cups end up as litter every day 100+ million plastic cups are used every year at UK festivals and live events, and most of these are incinerated or sent to landfill. What's the solution? Reusables! Plastic Free Sheffield Central would like to purchase reusable coffee cups, pint cups and containers in a war against waste.

What we'll deliver:

• Reusable cups for bars (pints, half pints, wine)
• Reusable leakproof cups for hot drinks (12oz and 8oz)
• Reusable containers for hot food
• Storage for reusables
• Washing costs for the reusables

Why it's a great idea:

For every 1 million reusable event cups in regular use, 1000 tonnes of C02e emissions and 300 tonnes waste could be avoided. Reusable cups are designed to be used hundreds, if not thousands of times at Sheffield's markets and events. By using reusables, the trader will save money by not having to use their disposables, and Sheffield City Council will save money on waste disposal costs. A Manchester City Council report stated that: "organisers using reusable cups report very positive audience feedback about the reduction in litter. In addition, events can experience a ‘multiplier effect’, whereby the reduction in litter makes it feel more unacceptable to drop litter. This is referred to as a ‘behaviour tipping point’." If you choose a reusable cup 7 times instead of 7 paper cups – you will use 41% less carbon. If you use a reusable cup every day for 6 months instead of 182 single-use cups – then you save 95% of the carbon.

Steps to get it done:

• Speak to markets, events and traders at those events about using reusables
• Find storage space for storing reusable products
• Identify how reusables will be washed
• Buy reusable products (cups/containers)