Mullingar Tidy Towns launch Reusable Cups
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At Juice Zone in the Primary Care Centre in Mullingar – Caron Weldon and Imelda Kelleghan with Mr Tuite, Cllr Collentine, Cllr Hill and Ms Feeley.Image 2 of 5
Derek Tuite, owner and manager of the Juice Zone outlets, with Cllr Paddy Hill, cathaoirleach of the county council.Image 3 of 5
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Introducing the reusable cups at Juice Zone, (back from left) Masterson and Eimear Glennon, Mullingar Chamber; and Derek Tuite, owner and manager; (front) Cllr Paddy Hill, cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council; Cllr Bill Collentine, chairperson of Mullingar Tidy Towns; and Margaret Feeley, also representing Mullingar Tidy Towns.More and more local outlets are offering free drinks in reusable cups and the scheme has been highlighted once more thanks to a link with Mullingar Tidy Towns
Cllr Paddy Hill, the cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, launched the ‘Choose to Reuse’ project with the Tidy Towns committee, and Juice Zone in Patrick Street, the café in the Primary Care Centre and the canteen in Áras an Chontae are now offering a free drink in reusable cups for customers who have obtained six loyalty stamps.
The aim of the project is to tackle the problem of single use cups, and therefore prevent waste, reduce litter and encourage reuse.
Cllr Hill said: “We are disposing of more than 200 million single use cups every year – it is a huge waste of resources, both in manufacturing the cups and in disposing of them after their short lives.
“It is wonderful to see businesses working with their local Tidy Towns group and leading the way to influence behavioural change because that is the solution.”
Derek Tuite, owner/manager of the three businesses, said: “I’m delighted to be extending the scheme to Juice Zone and the Primary Care Unit.
“I have reduced my costs, eliminating the need for single use cups in the council canteen and saving money on both purchasing and disposing of them.
“Customers will now have the opportunity to purchase their reusable cups to support the work of Mullingar Tidy Towns and receive a free cuppa under the loyalty scheme while also doing their bit for the environment so it’s a win-win for all involved.”
Members of Mullingar Tidy Towns and Mullingar Chamber were in attendance for the launch. Cllr Bill Collentine, chairperson of Mullingar Tidy Towns, said: “The ongoing enhancement works are an investment for future-proofing our town and delivering high quality civic areas.
“Promotions such as the reusable cups complement these works as we have to be working towards being more sustainable in our daily actions and this is a very simple and manageable step.”
Tidy Towns Competition
Ruth Maxwell from the Environment Department of Westmeath County Council pointed out that the National Tidy Towns competition includes the category ‘Sustainability – doing more with less’ and this project supports that.
“This category has proven difficult to secure marks in over the years, and results in Westmeath range from six to 19 points out of 50 (Listowel, overall winner in 2018, achieved 23/50 marks) and it is hoped that participation in this initiative will secure points in the results this year,” Ms Maxwell said.
The Conscious Cup campaign aims to decrease the use of single use cups, by encouraging cafés and other outlets to incentivise, through rewarding, customers who bring their own.
The Conscious Cup campaign hope this small change in behaviour will help to influence and start consumers and cafés on their journey towards responsible consumption.