"No Excuses!" Campaign

Chewing gum makes paved areas look grimy and dirty. Although it may be small, chewing gum is one of the most difficult types of litter to deal with. When carelessly discarded it becomes trodden into our pavements and is very difficult and expensive to remove. As it is sticky, litter picking and sweeping doesn't work, so more expensive methods such as jet washing or steam cleaning have to be used.

In a recent survey, Keep Britain tidy found solid chewing gum present at 7% of surveyed sites, and flattened gum and staining present in 50% of sites. It is a big problem, and the average cost to clear up a town centre is £20,000. 

Local Councils are responsible for clearing chewing gum from public places. However, once gum becomes flattened, councils are no longer under a duty to remove it as litter.

Help us to keep Wellingborough clean and tidy. Please put your chewing gum in a bin.

An information sheet about chewing gum litter and posters are available to download as part of the 'No Excuses!' campaign. These can be found in the 'related downloads'.