A new campaign has been launched by the Gum Litter Taskforce to remind all chewing gum consumers to ‘Bin your gum when you’re done’.
Cllr Ian McGarvey, Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, officially launched the gum litter education campaign at the Off the Street Food Festival in Letterkenny last weekend.
Suzanne Bogan, Waste Awareness Officer Donegal County Council, Anne McGowan, Letterkenny Tidy Towns and Ann-Louise McClintock from the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce were also in attendance.
Pictured at the launch of the Gum Litter Taskforce’s gum litter education campaign in Letterkenny (L to R) are Eleanor and Conor Margey.s
The Gum Litter Taskforce has been successful to date in changing the public’s behaviour by encouraging correct gum disposal through a targeted education awareness campaign.
The “Bin your gum when you’re done” campaign for 2018 – 2020 includes mass media advertising, a schools education programme, a “Bin It!” Buddies’ campaign for 14-16 year olds, a dedicated website at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie and other initiatives.
The latest report of the National Litter Monitoring Pollution System has shown that the percentage of chewing gum as a proportion of litter dropped to 8% in 2017 from 15% in 2016.
Pictured at the launch of the Gum Litter Taskforce’s gum litter education campaign in Letterkenny (L to R) are Ann Scanlon, Letterkenny Tidy Towns, Cllr Ian McGarvey, Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Heather McClean, Suzanne Bogan, Waste Awareness Officer Donegal County Council and Anne McGowan, Letterkenny Tidy Towns
Speaking at the launch, the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill said: “The Gum Litter Taskforce is a fantastic initiative for communities to get involved in. Each year, we see communities coming together with the common aim of reducing the level of littered gum within their respective localities. The campaign has achieved positive results to date in this regard, and I hope this year’s campaign will continue to further build on those results”.
Paul Kelly, Chairman of the GLT added: “Each year, the GLT campaign endeavours to educate people on the proper manner in which to dispose of their used gum. Beginning in 2007, the campaign has seen sustained and marked progress in changing people’s attitudes to littered gum which has in turn positively impacted upon behavioural patterns when it comes to gum disposal. As ever, we are committed to continuing efforts to eradicate gum from our streets entirely. Today’s national launch marks an important part of a wider nationwide campaign which also includes a national advertising campaign and a school’s education programme, Bin It!”.
The 2018 campaign is the first in a three-year cycle which commenced on foot of a negotiated agreement between the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Food Drink Ireland (FDI) representing the gum industry.
