Council gets stuck into gum campaign

Archived press release

Date Published: 04/09/09

An advertising campaign on billboards and bus shelters will highlight the campaign slogan

Not binning chewing gum costs tax payers in Aylesbury Vale thousands of pounds a year to clean up, but a campaign starting this month aims to put a stop to it.

After a successful bid, Aylesbury Vale District Council was one of only 15 local authorities in the country to be awarded support from Defra and Encams in order to mount a campaign highlighting the problems chewing gum can cause.

During the four-week week initiative, starting on 7 September, an advertising campaign on billboards and bus shelters will highlight the campaign slogan: ‘Bin your gum or it could cost you up to £80’.

To help get the message across to gum lovers, the council will be giving away free ‘gum wrap papers’ at a series of fun roadshows in Aylesbury and Buckingham. The gum wraps are portable packets of tear-off sheets that allow chewed gum to be wrapped and stored before it can be binned, rather than dropping it on pavements.

Council staff will also be offering advice and information as well as staging ‘grime scenes’ to highlight the amount of chewing gum the streets are littered with.

The roadshow will be visiting the following locations:
• John Hampden Statue, Market Square, Aylesbury, 12 September, 10am – 4pm
• Tesco, Tring Road, Aylesbury, 14 September, 9am – 2.30pm
• Meadow Walk car park, Buckingham, 15 September, 9am – 2.30pm
• Morrisons, Station Way, Aylesbury, 16 September, 9am – 2.30pm
• Aylesbury College, Oxford Road, Aylesbury, 17 September, 9am – 2.30pm

During the campaign ten sites in Aylesbury will be cleaned and monitored to assess how well the message of responsible chewing gum disposal is getting across.

Chewing gum was clearly defined as ‘litter’ under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and all local authorities now have the power to fine people caught dropping gum. In 2006 this fine was raised to a maximum of £80.

Councillor Kevin McPartland, Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities, said: “Chewing gum is an eyesore that is hugely expensive to remove. If it wasn’t for the thoughtless minority our streets could be much cleaner.

“The campaign will aim to highlight the problems of chewing gum litter and to encourage people to dispose of their gum responsibly. Hopefully this will help us to make a real difference and improve the cleanliness of our streets.”

For more information about the chewing gum litter awareness campaign, visit the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or call 01296 585862.