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STICKY PROBLEM FOR LOCAL SHOPPERS

The sticky problem of discarded chewing gum was brought to the attention of shoppers in Folkestone town centre recently when Shepway District Council and the Clean Kent Campaign took to the streets with The Great Gum Gamble. 

Shoppers were asked to take part in a competition, by chewing a piece of gum and putting it on a numbered square to try and pick the lucky square.

But there was a serious message behind the competition.

“It costs around £150m a year for local councils across the country to clean chewing gum off the streets. The idea behind the competition was to make people aware of this and ask them to dispose of their chewing gum correctly, in a litter bin,� said Alison Wood, Environmental Education Officer for Shepway Council

“Most people were shocked to learn that chewing gum never breaks down and has to be removed with a special cleaning machine.�