Cathaoirleach Hill launches 2019 Gum Litter campaign

A total of 93% of people regard chewing gum as litter, up from 74% when the campaign first began in 2007, pointing to the attitudinal impact which the campaign has had to date.

That's according to the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) which has been changing the public’s behaviour by encouraging correct gum disposal through an awareness campaign.

Cathaoirleach Paddy Hill officially launched the Gum Litter Taskforce gum litter education campaign in Mullingar Town Park.

The Cathaoirleach was joined by members of Mullingar Chamber, Mullingar Tidy Towns, Westmeath Community Development and Westmeath County Council.

Research commissioned by the Gum Litter Taskforce and conducted by Kantar Millward Brown during the 2018 campaign has highlighted the campaign’s positive effect on people’s behaviour towards gum disposal. The latest results show that 88% of people said that they always dispose of their gum correctly, up from 54% when the campaign first began.

“The Gum Litter Taskforce gum litter education campaign is a fantastic initiative, ridding our streets of littered gum," said Cathaoirleach Paddy Hill.

"Indeed, with the wonderful enhancement works being done in the town I encourage everyone to take responsibility and ensure that they dispose of their gum appropriately and keep our streets litter free”.

Paul Kelly, chairman of the GLT added that since its inception, the GLT campaign has sought to educate the public on the correct manner in which to dispose of used gum in a bid to tackle improper gum disposal.

Katherine Hogan, Corporate Affairs Director, Mars Ireland said Mars Wrigley Ireland are delighted once again to be part of this positive campaign.

"Although industry funded, the GLT campaign would not have been able to reach the heights which it has to date without the enthusiastic buy in and hard work of local authorities and local communities.”

Julia Dalton, CEO, Mullingar Chamber, explained how “bins have been strategically placed in the town. The inserts in the bins are removed when full and are then sent off to be remoulded back into more bin inserts”.

Ruth Maxwell, Council Environment Department said the campaign includes a basketball game which has proven a great way to engage with people about the issue of gum litter.

The 2019 campaign is the second in a three-year cycle which commenced on foot of a negotiated agreement between the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Food Drink Ireland (FDI), representing the gum industry.