Since the project's debut on July 31, 50,000 fewer single-use coffee cups have been disposed of as a result of a waste reduction programme in the town of Killarney, County Kerry.

Although it is recommended that customers bring their own reusable cups, they may alternatively buy one for a refundable €2 deposit and return it to any coffee shop in the area.

The Killarney Coffee Cup Project's representative, Killian Tracey, said the project had gotten positive feedback on RTÉ's News at One.

“Bins are often barely halfway filled, which is really promising, he added. We've seen that the natives have their own reusable cups that they use every day.”

“When they leave the house, it has become a routine.”

According to him, most tourists pay a €2 deposit for a reusable cup.

Collecting single-use coffee cups and depositing them in a box in the town centre was another aspect of the operation. The box can store 23,000 cups, which is the quantity of single-use cups that the town formerly used each week.

The discarded single-use coffee cups will be used into a future educational project that also incorporates science, art, and ecological initiatives from the region.

The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Killarney Credit Union, Kerry County Council, 2GoCup, WanderWild Festival, Kerry Convention Bureau, and AIB all lend their support to the endeavour.