Refill Return Cup initiative off to a strong start in Cardiff

Cardiff’s Refill Return Cup initiative has seen strong engagement in its first month, with more than 2,500 reusable cups borrowed and a return rate of 97%.

Launched in October, the scheme is Wales' first city-wide reusable cup return programme and is estimated to have saved around 43kg of CO2 by reducing the need for single-use cup waste.

The initiative, led by FOR Cardiff and environmental organisation City to Sea, is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. It allows customers to “borrow” a reusable cup from participating cafes around Cardiff, with a network of return locations for easy drop-off. The project’s goal is to prevent up to 30,000 disposable cups from entering Cardiff’s waste stream by March 2025.

Customers can participate by scanning a QR code on the Refill app, making it easy to borrow and return cups. Da Coffee at Central Square has reported the highest cup return rate among participating venues.

Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said: Seeing the Cardiff Refill Return Cup scheme gain such quick momentum is inspiring. The commitment of Cardiff’s businesses, residents and visitors alike is helping build a more sustainable city one cup at a time.

The success of this pilot is attributed to the collaboration between local businesses, which offer a network of collection points throughout the city, encouraging sustainable practices among Cardiff’s residents and visitors.