UK to spend £1.2 million cleaning chewing gum litter
More than 50 councils across the UK will receive a share of £1.2 million to combat damage caused by chewing gum litter on the country’s high streets.
The funding is being provided by the government and charity Keep Britain Tidy. Residents in Glasgow, Fermanagh and Omagh, Bradford and Cardiff are set to benefit from the fourth round of funding from the Chewing Gum Taskforce.
Launched in 2021, the partnership between industry, government and funds from gum producers aims to curb anti-social littering and help local councils acquire cutting-edge cleaning equipment to boost street cleaning efforts.
The previous three rounds of funding awarded grants worth a total of £4.88 million to 122 councils. Last year alone, more than 3.4 million square metres of pavements were scrubbed free of chewing gum due to funding from the grant scheme.
Bradford Metropolitan District Council plans to deploy specialist steam cleaners, while Cheshire Council will hire new specialists to undertake intensive cleaning in areas with high public footfall.
This initiative not only enhances community pride by improving the cleanliness and appearance of local high streets but also supports regional growth by creating more inviting spaces for residents to visit, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday (17 June).
Cleaner streets contribute to safer environments and are essential in supporting hospitality businesses and restoring pride in our communities, it said.
“Chewing gum litter is a stain on our communities. These grants, funded by gum producers, will empower local councils to tackle this issue head-on, delivering cleaner streets for all,” said Environment Minister Mary Creagh.
“This government is committed to ending our throwaway society. That is why we have already banned single-use vapes, and announced a crackdown on waste crime,” she said.
