Campaign aiming to increase gum litter awareness
The tagline is simple – bin it when you’re finished. That’s the message from the 2015 Gum Litter Taskforce campaign, which aims to get that idea through to members of the public.
Discarded chewing gum is a big problem around the country’s streets and footpaths, and Sligo is no different.
The campaign has already lead to an increased awareness of gum litter with similar operations in 2007 and 2014, and it aims to reduce the number of gum issues even further.
The new campaign was launched in Sligo on Tuesday last ( August 11th) by the Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Ciaran Hayes.
Speaking at the launch Ciaran Hayes said, “It is wonderful to see everyone in the community coming together to get behind this campaign, both here in Sligo and in so many towns around the country.
“The Gum Litter Taskforce campaign brings together the community and local authorities with a common goal to fight gum litter.”
This will be the Gum Litter Taskforce’s third full campaign and it will be aiming to build on what it has achieved to date.
Following the success of the initial campaign in 2007, gum now contributes to 15.32% of litter, compared with 26.37% eight years ago.
The 2014 GLT campaign results showed a 93% acceptance that irresponsibly disposed of gum is littering and the lowest baseline amount of littered gum since the GLT began measuring in 2007.
The two year long campaign will include a schools education programme aimed at first year secondary school students.