CITY of Chester MP Chris Matheson is campaigning for large events to save tonnes of plastic waste with mandatory reusable cups.

The MP is calling for a change to licensing laws, with the aim of giving local authorities the power to mandate the use of reusable cups.

Mr Matheson first raised the issue in Parliament in June and has since written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to outline a change in this law which would give local authorities the power to award licenses to environmentally aware companies.

In his letter, Mr Matheson described how The Oval cricket ground have recently agreed a partnership with the company ‘Stack-Up’ to provide reusable cups throughout the ground for the 1.2 million pints of lager and ales sold each year.

He said: “This sort of arrangement has been very successful at large-scale events across the country. The system is simple: fans pay a £1 deposit on the first cup of the day and then return with that cup, to receive a clean one for each following drink.

"At the end of the day, fans have can either hand their cup back to a return point and receive their pound back or take the cup home as souvenir. Other schemes have also provided fans with an option to ‘donate’ their cup, handing it back in and giving their £1 to a designated charity.”

Mr Matheson is supporting the local Friends of the Earth group in Chester, who have been fighting for changes to relevant licensing legislation to eradicate needless single-use plastic.

Helen Tandy, from Chester and District Friends of the Earth, said: “We have recently been in communication with a number of local large outdoor venues where glass isn't considered an option.

"Nationally, Friends of the Earth are currently working on Single Use Plastic Free Stadiums and they have offered great support in helping me locally.

“In the case of The Oval, a voluntary change away from single use plastic glasses saved around six tonnes of plastic being incinerated or sent to landfill over a season.

"Should a similar scheme be introduced to every other venue, stadium, festival and event in the country the saving would be monumental and would set Britain apart as a flag-bearer for the cause.

“I would like to thank Chris for taking this to parliament and for all of the support he has offered for our campaign in Chester.”

Mr Matheson concluded: “Piecemeal change will not eliminate single-use plastics. It is only through changes to the law that we can force the large players, such as businesses and events managers, to eliminate the mass purchase and use of single-plastic cups and materials.

"This simple change will make huge difference, particularly at large events.”