Gum Litter Awareness Campaign launched by Fingal Mayor

Fingal County Council Environmental Education Officer Sinéad Fox, Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Fingal County Council Environment Department Staff Officer Tony Egan

The Gum Litter Taskforce’s gum litter education campaign was officially launched by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien in the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords on Wednesday.

Fingal is among 26 participating local authorities launching the “Bin Your Gum When You’re Done” campaign.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said: “The Gum Litter Taskforce’s gum litter education campaign is a fantastic initiative which harnesses community spirit towards achieving a common goal: ridding our streets of littered gum.

“I am delighted to see local communities from right across the county coming together again this year in an effort to make a positive change within their respective localities.

“The campaign has made some very positive inroads to date on this issue and I hope that the campaign will continue to do so again this year.”

Paul Kelly, Chairman of the GLT said: “Since its inception, the GLT campaign has sought to educate the public on the correct manner in which to dispose of used gum in a bid to tackle improper gum disposal.

“Today’s launch is part of a broader nationwide campaign which includes an advertising campaign and a school’s education programme, Bin It!”.

Katherine Hogan, Corporate Affairs Director, Mars Ireland said: “Mars Wrigley Ireland are delighted once again to be part of this positive and vibrant campaign.

“Although industry funded, the GLT campaign would not have been able to reach the heights which it has to date without the enthusiastic buy in and hard work of local authorities and local communities right around the country in tackling the issue of littered gum head on.

“As ever, we look forward to matching this spirit of enthusiasm through our continued support for this campaign and to playing our part in tackling the issue of gum litter shoulder to shoulder with communities the length and breadth of the country.” 

 

 

 

Gum Litter Awareness Taskforce members with Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Eoghan O’Brien

When the Gum Litter Taskforce began in 2007, 74% of people regarded chewing gum as litter, while 54% of people said that they always disposed of their gum correctly. By 2018 these were 93% and 88% respectively, suggesting that the campaigns are having a positive impact.

The Taskforce includes representatives of the chewing gum industry; Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Food Drink Ireland; local authority representatives and civic society.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

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Photo captions:

Photo 1: L to R: Fingal County Council Environmental Education Officer Sinéad Fox, Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Fingal County Council Environment Department Staff Officer Tony Egan.

Photo 2: Gum Litter Awareness Taskforce members with Mayor of Fingal County Council Cllr Eoghan O’Brien.