Roadshow on tackling chewing gum litter visits Offaly
A roadshow campaign aimed at tackling the scourge of chewing gum litter on our streets visited Offaly this week to help spread the message: "Bin your gum when you're done!"
The roadshow, which was in Tullamore yesterday (Tuesday), is organised by The Gum Litter Taskforce, a State-supported initiative funded by chewing gum industry representatives Mars and Wrigley.
The Gum Litter Taskforce collaborated with Offaly County Council during the local visit in order to promote the importance of proper litter disposal through education and awareness initiatives which highlight the negative environmental impacts of gum litter and draw awareness to the €150 gum litter fine.
The Gum Litter Taskforce said it has seen gum litter reduce by almost 70% since 2007, following a sustained public engagement and education campaign.
According to the latest National Litter Pollution Monitoring System data, gum now accounts for just 8.6% of all litter, continuing a downward trend in gum as a component of litter from 26.4% in 2006, and 9.1% in 2021, the end of the previous three-year cycle.
However, according to the latest research, 1 in 12 admit that they still drop their gum on the ground – with men more than twice as likely to do so than women.
Caroline Clancy, Environmental Awareness Officer with Offaly County Council, commented: "Offaly County Council is delighted to welcome the Gum Litter Taskforce back to Offaly.
"It's a great initiative that generates awareness of the negative impacts of gum litter in a fun and engaging way.
"As a council, we are committed to working with campaigns such as the Gum Litter Taskforce which promote responsible litter disposal behaviours, and result in cleaner communities."
This year's roadshow will make 20 stops across 17 counties during the summer.
The Gum Litter Taskforce campaign also includes a school roadshow (‘Bin It!’) which will travel to primary and secondary schools across the country from October, and an advertising campaign and website, with educational material at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie.