Wiltshire Council gets Government cash to clean up chewing gum
The authority's being given £25,000 to tackle litter
Last updated 6th Jul 2023
Wiltshire Council's among more than 50 authorities in the UK to be getting Government money to clean up chewing gum.
£25,000 is coming to Wiltshire from the Chewing Gum Task Force, out of a £1.2 million funding pot.
The cash is for things like cleaning gum off pavements and putting in measures to stop it being dropped in the first place, and preventing anti-social littering.
The fund was set up by Defra in 2021, administered by Keep Britain Tidy, and paid for by chewing gum manufacturers.
Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million and, according to Keep Britain Tidy, around 77% of England’s streets and 99% of retail sites are stained with gum.
Where's Wiltshire's money going?
Wiltshire Council say they're 'delighted' to have been awarded cash from the Task Force.
They've said it will be used for a new high-pressure gum removal machine.
That will be then be loaned out for free to town and parish councils that request it to tackle hotspots.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Street Scene, said:
“We’re delighted to have received this funding from Keep Britain Tidy to tackle this sticky problem across Wiltshire.
“This new gum removal machine will help to clean up this unsightly problem on our streets, and we’ll also be loaning the machine without charge to our town and parish councils to use at local hotspots.
“We have committed to having vibrant communities in our Business Plan, and that includes continuing to invest to clean up our streets. Though of course, it would be much better if people didn’t drop litter and used gum in the first place.
“Wiltshire is a beautiful place, and we want to keep it that way.”
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
“Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside, harms our wildlife and wastes taxpayers’ money when cleaning it up. That’s why we’re working with gum producers to tackle chewing gum stains.
“After the success of the first round of funding, this next slice will give councils further support to clean up our towns and cities.”
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said:
“Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome.
“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”