Tackling chewing gum problem on the streets of Gwynedd

Over the next few weeks Cyngor Gwynedd will be tackling the problem of old chewing gum stains on the county's pavements and streets, helping to make our communities cleaner and more pleasant places to live, thanks to a grant from a national organisation.

Chewing gum can cause unsightly stains on the street and pavement which are very difficult to remove.   Thanks to a capital grant of £26,752 from the Chewing Gum Task Force Cyngor Gwynedd has been able to buy a specialist steam machine to tackle the problem, and the Timau Tacluso Ardal Ni (Tidy-up Teams) will be using the machine across communities in the county.

The Council is one of 52 local authorities across the UK that have been successful in securing funds from the Chewing Gum Task Force to address the problem on our pavements.  This is the third year in a row that Cyngor Gwynedd has attracted funding from the scheme, which is administered by independent charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government) the scheme brings together some of the country’s largest chewing gum producers in partnership to remove gum litter from UK streets and to also prevent further littering in the future.

June Jones, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and Ymgynghoriaeth Gwynedd said:

"Carelessly discarded chewing gum is an issue that is raised by the people of the county all the time, so it has been good news that we have been able to purchase specialist equipment to tackle the problem.

“We are grateful to the Chewing Gum Task Force for their investment, and we hope that the work that will be carried out over the coming weeks and months by the Timau Tacluso will transform Gwynedd’s pavements.”

Steven Edwards, Street Scene Manager, Cyngor Gwynedd added:

"Unfortunately, many people in Gwynedd will have had the experience of getting someone else’s old chewing gum stuck on their shoes or clothes, and carrying it into their homes, school or workplace. That's why we are working hard to raise awareness not to be thoughtless when disposing of used gum in the first place.

“It’s also important to remember that disposing of chewing gum irresponsibly harms our environment, and it takes years to decompose naturally, which increases the pressure of cleaning costs for the Council."

"As part of this project we are encouraging the public to get on board; by raising awareness with the placement of signs and publishing posts on our social media accounts, asking users to put their used gum in the bin to help keep the streets of Gwynedd clean and tidy."

The Timau Tacluso Ardal Ni (Tidy-up Teams) work across all Gwynedd communities, tackling the small but important tasks to improve the local environment. If you would like one of the teams to visit your community, speak to your local County Councillor.