The Chewing Gum Task Force
Council has secured funding to purchase two new power washers to remove unsightly chewing gum staining on our streets and footpaths.
The funding was designed to support street cleansing and/or the purchase of cleaning equipment which was supplemented by fully funded gum litter prevention packages for Council, including targeted behaviour change signage and advice.
By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 80% in the first two months.
Set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Scottish Government and Welsh Government – the Chewing Gum Task Force brings together major chewing gum producers. A producer of nicotine replacement therapy gum has also made a contribution.
Under the scheme, administered by independent environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the firms will invest up to £10m over five years to help reduce chewing gum pollution.
Our Waste Team have been out in force cleansing hot spot areas across the borough.
We advise all residents and tourists to the area to use bins provided for discarded gum.