VOX POPS One week on: Local reaction to coffee cup scheme

Last week the business community of Killarney announced a project to end single use coffee cups.

The town will become the first in Ireland to do so.

After last week’s launch, the business leaders will continue to push the idea ahead of its official start on July 31. The move to reusables is estimated to remove over one million single use cof- fee cups from the town annually. The decision to move to a reusable takeaway system has been taken following an agreement by 25 local independent coffee shops and 21 hotels.

One week in, the Killarney Advertiser spent a morning in the town centre where we caught up with café owners and workers during the peak coffee break.

This is what they had to say...

Killarney Advertiser's Sean Moriarty was out and about this week chatting to locals and getting their reaction to The Killarney Coffee Cup Project

“They are slowly catching on. People are starting to buy the cups. We haven’t had too many cups back [under the deposit scheme]. There are a lot of people with their own cups which is even better,” said Bobbie-Jane.

“It has really taken off, the tourists are getting used to the idea, people are on board,” said Breeda.

”We are getting great positive feedback from people. There has been a real mindset change and a lot of people are likening it to the plastic bag levy. A lot of people mention how it is protecting the National Park too. They see it as a way of giving back – we all get something out of the National Park – this is a nice way to give back.

“The [reusable cups] are brilliant. They are lovely to drink out of. We get coffee here every morning and so far everyone is happy – no complaints.”