Gum Litter Campaign

For the second year in a row, Laois County Council has been invited to work with the national Chewing Gum Litter Campaign run in association with the Gum Litter Task Force (GLT).

No one can deny that chewing gum litter is disgusting.  But did you know that you can get a Litter Fine of €150 for the incorrect disposal of chewing gum?  The main aim of the GLT campaign is to positvely change behaviour so that people dispose of it correctly.

As part of this campaign, Laois County Council held a launch of the campaign in June and will hold a mid campaign boost in September.  During the launch, students from Scoil Mhuire NS and the Sacred Heart NS, Portlaoise hightlighted the importance of binning your gum when you are done. 

Staff from the Environment Section have distributed free STUBBI combi pouches (for cigarette and chewing gum litter) free of charge during various promotion days during 2008 and 2009.  A limited number of  pouches are still available from the Environment Section (Phone 057 867 4332).

Full details on the work of the GLT can be found http://www.gumlittertaskforce.ie/ and access to educational material can be found at http://www.chewitbinit.com/

Sample promotional posters can be downloaded here in English, Irish and Polish. To download simply click on the required poster:

Feedback from 2008 and 2009 Campaigns:

The GLT campaign is evaluated in two specific ways - gum litter monitoring (methodology was agreed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the litter monitoring body, Tobin Consulting Engineers) and attitude and awareness surveys.  Gum litter was monitored in five locations in the cities of Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway. In 2008, the GLT achieved a reduction of 36% gum litter while in 2009 the GLT achieved a reduction of 37%. This is an excellent result and shows the effectiveness of the campaign through changing consumer behaviour, by encouraging people to dispose of their gum responsibly and this shows that education and awareness is a sustainable long-term way to manage the issue.

Attitude  and  awareness  survey research is undertaken on a national basis. In 2008 research carried out on behalf of the GLT by  Lansdowne Market Research showed that the perception  of chewing gum as litter increased from 79% in June 2006 to 87% by  2009  while  reported  spitting is also down significantly with 80% now claiming  never  to  spit gum compared to 73% in 2007 and 58% in June 2006.  The 2009 surveys are currently being carried out and will be available by the GLT in 2010.