92% of respondents dispose of their gum properly - survey

The number of people who dispose of chewing gum correctly ‘always’ or ‘usually’ is at a record high, the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) disclosed while visiting the West Cork harbour town of Bantry earlier this week.

That’s a 5% increase, to 92%, in the number of respondents saying they disposed of used gum correctly all the time. 

The survey followed last year’s information campaign by the national awareness group.

The latest results of the National Litter Pollution Monitoring Report confirm this trend.

However, gum remains a substantial problem and a drain on the resources of local authorities, who have to remove it from pavements and street furniture.

One in seven people drop their gum on the ground, according to new findings from the GLT, including 19% of men and 9% of women.

While 25% of respondents said they had changed their behaviour as a result of educational messaging from the ‘Bin It!’ campaign, the biggest deterrent to gum litter is peer pressure.

Speaking in advance of this year’s Gum Litter campaign, the campaign director, Avril Donlon, of Food Drink Ireland, said, “We are delighted to launch the 2024 Gum Litter Taskforce campaign, with the support of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

“The results of the campaign are evident, and we are thrilled that one in four people credit the GLT campaign as the reason for deterring them from littering gum.”

Katrine Grytter, the corporate-affairs director at Mars Wrigley, said the company was delighted with the continued success of the campaign.

“The campaign helps to teach younger generations about the negative impacts of gum and other litter and promotes an eco-conscious mindset,” said Ms Grytter.

This year’s campaign will see representatives from the Gum Litter Taskforce working with local authorities and communities to carry out education-and-awareness initiatives that demonstrate the proper means of gum disposal and raise awareness of the environmental and fiscal impacts of improper disposal.

The Gum Litter Taskforce was welcomed to Bantry by County Cork’s Mayor, Joe Carroll, who praised the group for helping “to educate and inform the people of Cork on the negative impacts of gum litter on the community”.

“The reduction of gum litter in recent years is a testament to the success of the campaign and we look forward to seeing the progressive positive change the campaign brings in years to come.”

In September, the Gum Litter Taskforce’s Bin It! education programme will travel across the country and will deliver 60 performances a year to primary and secondary schools nationwide, with the ambition to visit 180 schools by 2025.