Getting tough on sticky streets

To get to grips with chewing gum litter on our streets and pavements Gloucester City Council is one of 11 local areas nationwide that selected to take part in the latest annual campaign to reduce chewing gum litter, run by the Chewing Gum Action Group (CGAG).

The marketing campaign will target gum-chewers in locations where they are most likely to drop chewing gum litter, with striking posters informing chewers to ‘Bin your gum or it could cost you £80’.

The campaign will run during August and September, in order to make chewers aware of the fines associated with irresponsible disposal of gum.

The campaign kicks off on August 16^th where posters will complement the anti litter messages already up across the city and a advan will be situated throughout the city for the next week.

Council officers, from the neighbourhood management team will be hitting the pavements to give out chewing gum wrap its and talk to residents about the problems of dealing with chewing gum waste.

Council officers will monitor gum litter in various hotspots around the city before, during and post the campaign period.

Steve Morgan, cabinet member for the environment, Gloucester City Council said: We hope this campaign will make those who drop chewing gum think twice. Chewing gum is one of the most costly items of litter we have to clean up, and it makes the streets look unsightly, although many when tackled don’t realise chewing gum is classed as litter.”

CGAG has been running successful campaigns to change the behaviour of irresponsible gum chewers since 2006. Previous campaigns have shown a positive shift in chewers’ attitudes and resulted in significant reductions in gum litter in the areas where the campaign was active.

A spokesperson for the Chewing Gum Action Group said: “This year we are hoping more people than ever will take the campaign message to heart and think more seriously about how they dispose of their chewing gum. By continuing to drive awareness of the negative effects that littered gum can have, we hope to help create a cleaner environment for everyone to enjoy.”