People who drop their chewing gum in Ipswich are being told where to stick it as part of a drive to rid streets of gum stains.
Five new ‘Gumdrop’ bins are being rolled out in the town by business district Ipswich Central in response to new data that reveals 95% of Britain’s streets are littered with gum.
The vibrant gadgets – which bosses claim are proven to encourage people to stick their gum “inside the pink drum” rather than on the pavement – are recycled once they reach capacity.
Full bins are then turned into anything from wellington boots to stationery and packaging.
“Chewing gum is one of the worst forms of litter, and I’m all in favour of a campaign like this,” said Ipswich MP Sandy Martin.
“I’m glad that Ipswich Central are working with the council on this, I remember sitting on a board with Wrigley’s who were also keen to do a campaign. Let’s hope the bins act as a deterrent.”
Plans to install the new bins come only a few months after cigarette butt ballot bins were launched in Ipswich. BID manager Sophie Alexander said: “We were also asked to help the council with the chewing gum blight on our streets. We asked our BID businesses for area nominations and have done our best to match a bin to the area.”
According to The Chewing Gum Action Group, councils and BIDs that have taken part in their campaign can expect to see a fall in chewing gum on pavements – of at least 36%.
Arcade Street is one of the areas nominated for a bin.
Ross Keough, owner of the Arcade Street Tavern, said: “I’m so pleased Ipswich Central has taken the initiative of installing these chewing gum bins.
“We have fantastic architecture, great easy walking routes from all areas of the town to the Waterfront, yet along all areas we are blighted by the nasty sight of chewing gum all over the pavements.”
Readers have shared their views on the issue. Stephen Ellis said: “Why not fine people that think it’s acceptable to just spit it out?
“And the cigarette end flickers for that matter. I chew gum but I’ll go out of my way to bin it.
“It’s certainly a blight in Ipswich town centre.”
People living in Ipswich are being encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for the bins, which will arrive soon, and to use them when they are chewing gum in the town centre.
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