Killarney Coffee Cup Project

Recent volunteer clean-ups in the park revealed that single-use coffee cups were among the most common forms of litter. Recognising the detrimental effects of this waste on the environment, local coffee shops decided to take action. On 11 July 2023, the Killarney Coffee Cup Project was launched, aiming to make Killarney the first town in Ireland free of single-use coffee cups. This initiative is expected to eliminate over one million single-use coffee cups annually, equating to 18.5 tonnes of waste.

As part of this initiative, 25 independent coffee shops and 21 hotels in the town have committed to eliminating single-use cups by 31 July, transitioning to a reusable takeaway system. It is hoped that this new approach will lead to a noticeable reduction in litter throughout the town and its surrounding natural areas.