Reusable cups: SSE Arena to charge non-refundable £1 levy

Ms Jones told BBC News NI she appreciated what the SSE Arena was trying to do, but saw no benefit to the scheme.

“I understand the need to create a greener environment. However, I don’t understand why we have to effectively pay for the trial of the system and paying for the recycling policy,” she said.

“There is no benefit in taking the cups back. Where is the benefit to me? It’s just additional cost.”

Ms Jones said she had been to other venues in England where the charge was refunded.

“People were motivated to clear and return the cups or take them home to wash and bring back at another time,” she said.

“Why is that not an option?”

Some venues, including the Motorpoint Arena and Nottingham and Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, charge £1 per cup as a deposit which customers can reclaim when they return the cup.

The Ovo Hydro in Glasgow used to operate the same scheme but has now scrapped the £1 charge, saying it wanted to “streamline the process”.