Live music venues in Sheffield are being urged to phase out single-use plastic cups during this year’s Tramlines Fringe Festival, as an environmental campaign group calls for a shift towards reusable alternatives.

As venues begin booking acts for the annual fringe event, Sheffield Action on Plastic has launched an appeal for organisers to follow new measures introduced by Sheffield City Council, which banned traders from using single-use plastic cups at city centre events from April 1.

The council has also contacted external event organisers, encouraging them to adopt similar policies.

The campaign comes amid growing concern over the environmental impact of disposable plastics.

Around 100 million plastic cups are used annually at UK music festivals and sporting events.

Plastic pint cups rank among the most commonly found waste items in the country’s rivers and on its beaches.

Globally, an estimated 500 billion plastic cups are used each year.

Polling by Yonder suggests strong public backing for change, with 89% of Britons supporting a ban on plastic pint cups to help protect the environment.

Sheffield Action on Plastic says switching to reusable cups could significantly reduce both waste and emissions.

For every one million reusable cups in circulation, an estimated 1,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions and 300 tonnes of waste could be avoided.

Organisers who have adopted reusable systems also report improved audience behaviour, with less littering creating a “multiplier effect” that discourages further waste.

The group’s chair, Greg Hewitt, said he has been struck by the scale of plastic waste during previous Tramlines Fringe events.

“I've been in Sheffield for four years now, and each Tramlines Fringe I am horrified at the number of single-use plastic cups used by venues,” he said.

“The facts are clear - we cannot continue using single-use plastic cups. A reusable revolution is possible.”

Concerns are no longer limited to environmental damage.

Emerging research suggests single-use plastics may also pose risks to human health.

One study found at least 1,396 food-contact plastic chemicals present in the human body, including substances linked to cancer, infertility, neurodevelopmental disorders, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

The group is encouraging venues to hire reusable cups through its scheme, delivered in partnership with Derby-based technology company Circulayo.

The system allows events to implement a deposit return scheme aimed at maximising reuse rates.

Some Sheffield events have already made the switch.

At the 2025 Sheffield Food Festival, organisers introduced reusable cups as part of wider sustainability efforts.

Agata, from Swans Events, said: “We try to be as sustainable as possible. When we realised we could collaborate with Circulayo, we thought that would be a great idea. We want to add our element to saving the environment and pushing it within the entertainment industry.

“We would like to hope other events use reusable cups. It’s a great initiative and as many organisations as possible should consider using reusables.”