Clearing the streets of chewing gum

A new machine has hit the streets of Teignbridge to tackle the persistent problem of chewing gum litter on pavements.

Teignbridge Council has received £18,000 in funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force to help clear the sticky residue from public walkways and reduce gum littering. Equipped with this new gum-busting machine, teams have already started working in Newton Abbot to remove discarded gum from the streets.

Over the next few weeks, the council will continue its efforts to clean up gum across the district and install signs to discourage further littering. Teignbridge is one of 54 local authorities to secure funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force, which is now in its third year. The council received a grant of £18,297 for this initiative.

Cllr Peter Williams, the executive member for recycling, household waste, and environmental health, highlighted the impact of careless gum disposal:

"Carelessly discarded chewing gum is a significant issue for residents, businesses, and the council. It damages clothing and footwear, poses a serious threat to wildlife, and can tarnish the appearance of our neighbourhoods. While a piece of gum costs just three pence to produce, removing it costs about 10p. With over 80% of gum not being disposed of properly, this is a significant burden on society and taxpayers."

The Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme, established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, enables councils to clean up gum and invest in long-term strategies to prevent gum littering.