Nationwide Gum Litter Action Campaign launched

The Gum Litter Taskforce launched its nationwide Gum Litter Action Campaign in Cork city on Monday, 16th June 2008, in a major push to combat gum litter. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of the gum litter problem, in order to change attitudes and encourage people to dispose of their gum responsibly in the bin.

Following the success of last year’s campaign, this year participation is even greater with 21 local authorities taking part.

After the review and assessment of the highly successful pilot campaign in 2006 and first phase of the national campaign which ended in November 2007, it was found that each of these campaigns raised awareness of the gum litter issue and promoted the responsible disposal of gum.

The 2008 campaign was launched in Cork city, by Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Donal Counihan with the support of Cork City Council's Environment Directorate. The Lord Mayor said, “I am delighted to be launching this year’s Gum Litter Action Campaign in Cork city. As a participating city last year, we have seen first hand the increase in awareness about gum litter and the positive impact that the campaign has had on understanding that irresponsible disposal of gum will not be tolerated around the city. We hope that Cork city can build on the success of last year’s campaign.”

The national campaign will involve multi format outdoor advertising, in-store and around store advertising, point of sale materials and the promotion of greater awareness of litter law enforcement through higher visibility of litter fines for irresponsible disposal of gum in the local authority areas throughout the counties and towns involved.

There will also be a national and regional radio advertising campaign that will reach people throughout the country to reinforce the responsible gum disposal messages.  An education road show has already visited schools around the country as part of an ongoing schools programme run by the Gum Litter Taskforce to educate young people to dispose of their used gum responsibly.

The second phase of the campaign, which will run until November, represents the centrepiece of the programme of activity of the Gum Litter Taskforce which was established in 2006 as a joint initiative between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the gum industry, as represented by Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) a business sector of IBEC.

The 21 local authority areas participating in the second phase are the City Councils of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, the County Councils of Cavan, Fingal, North Tipperary, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Westmeath, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim, Wexford, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny and Donegal and the Town Council of Westport.

Commenting on the start of the nationwide campaign in Cork city, Chairman of the Gum Litter Taskforce Paul Kelly said, “We were delighted with the success of last year’s campaign and this year we want to build upon that success. The number of local authorities taking part this year is proof of the growing momentum of this campaign. By focusing on education, we aim to change people’s littering behaviour and the manner in which they dispose of their gum. The campaign also aims to reinforce the fines in place for disposing of chewing gum irresponsibly by highlighting the €150 fine for littering.  “I look forward to the second nationwide campaign making a lasting and positive difference to our streets and environment generally” Mr. Kelly concluded.

Paul Kelly, Chairman                                               

Gum Litter Taskforce                                              

Tel:  01 605 1621       

                                              

Gum Litter Taskforce.

The Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) was established following a negotiated agreement between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the chewing gum industry.

The joint initiative is the result of negotiations between the Department and Food and Drink Industry Ireland – a business sector of IBEC - on behalf of the chewing gum industry. This follows the publication of the Government Study on Chewing Gum, Fast-Food packaging and ATM receipt litter.

The GLT is charged with developing and implementing an Action Programme to tackle gum litter in the most sustainable way – by changing behaviour, the root cause of the issue. Members of the GLT include representatives of the chewing gum industry, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Food and Drink Industry Ireland, Department of Education and Science, ENFO, ECO UNESCO, Foroige, local authority representatives and Retail Ireland.

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