Gum Litter Taskforce Roadshow takes to the streets of Portlaoise

Members of Portlaoise Tidy Towns, together with its chairperson Vincent Booth and Padraig Fleming Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and Samantha McLeod, Laois County Council

placeholder image — Members of Portlaoise Tidy Towns, together with its chairperson Vincent Booth and Padraig Fleming Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and Samantha McLeod, Laois County Council

New research finds men are more likely to drop their gum on the ground than women

The Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) took to the streets of Portlaoise as part of its Summer Roadshow.

This interactive initiative collaborates with local authorities and communities nationwide, engaging in fun and educational activities to promote proper gum disposal and raise awareness about the environmental and financial impacts of gum litter.

Now in its seventeenth year, the campaign is a collaboration between Food Drink Ireland, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, the chewing gum industry, and local authorities.

New findings from the GLT reveal that one in seven people continue to drop their gum on the ground, with men being more likely offenders (19%) compared to women (9%). However, there is a shift in attitudes, particularly among children who are increasingly aware of the negative impacts of gum litter.

The 2023 GLT campaign positively influenced public attitudes and behaviour regarding gum disposal. There was a 5% increase in those who reported ‘always’ or ‘usually’ disposing of their gum in a bin, bringing the figure to a record high of 92%. The National Litter Pollution Monitoring report (2022) also shows a decline in the percentage of gum as a proportion of litter, now at 8.6%. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

Cathaoirleach Padraig Fleming welcomed the Roadshow to Portlaoise, stating: “We are delighted to welcome the Gum Litter Taskforce to Portlaoise. This initiative educates and informs our community about the negative impacts of gum litter. The reduction in gum litter is a testament to the campaign's success, and we look forward to seeing continued positive changes. I would like to thank the efforts of Portlaoise Tidy Towns and the Environment and Roads Section of Laois County Council for keeping our town clean.”

This year’s campaign will see GLT representatives working with local authorities and communities to conduct educational initiatives on proper gum disposal. In September, the GLT’s Bin It! education programme will visit schools across the country, aiming to deliver 60 performances annually and reach 180 schools by 2025. This programme complements lesson plans already available to nearly 730 schools in Ireland.