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28,000 pieces of gum removed from city streets
For another year, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste have partnered to tackle chewing gum litter, with support from a £27,500 grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force.
The project, part of a national effort to address gum-related waste, has led to the removal of a staggering 280,000 pieces of gum from the city’s pavements – enough to cover the entire pitch at Ashton Gate Stadium.
The task was made possible by the use of specialised “gum-buster” backpacks, which allow waste crews to treat gum stains with an eco-friendly, sugar-based liquid. This liquid is heated to a high temperature, breaking down the gum and leaving the pavement clean without damaging the surface.
The innovative cleaning method has proven highly effective in tackling the persistent issue of chewing gum litter, which can stick to pavements for years and degrade the appearance of urban areas.
Special “gum buster” backpacks break down the gum, leaving the pavement clean without damaging the surface
Bristol was one of 54 councils selected across the UK to receive funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat the environmental impact of chewing gum, a major contributor to urban litter.
Funded by leading gum manufacturers such as Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, along with an investment of up to £10 million over five years, the Task Force aims to clean public spaces and, importantly, prevent further littering by promoting responsible gum disposal.
In addition to removing pieces of gum, Bristol Waste crews carried out various activities to raise awareness and reduce future littering.
These efforts included cleaning 7,000 m² of pavement, spray-painting 40 ‘Bin Your Gum’ stencils, and installing 70 behaviour-changing bin stickers and signs around the city center.
According to Bristol Waste, the combination of cleaning and preventative measures has been put in place as part of a long-term strategy to reduce gum litter and enhance the cleanliness of urban spaces.
The Chewing Gum Task Force’s work goes beyond immediate cleanup efforts. Councils like Bristol are also focused on making lasting changes in public behavior.
Monitoring and evaluation by the Behaviour Change social enterprise has shown that areas that received funding in the first year of the Task Force saw a significant reduction in gum litter, with a 60 percent decrease within the first two months.
Martin Fodor, chair of the Environment and Sustainability Policy Committee, said: “It’s fantastic to see the outcomes of the Chewing Gum Task Force’s work, marking a great step forward in improving the cleanliness of Bristol’s streets.”
Chewing gum litter has become just an aesthetic issue but also a costly one. The annual cleanup of gum from UK streets costs local councils around £7 million.
Keep Britain Tidy estimates that 77 percent of England’s streets and 99 percent of retail sites are stained by chewing gum, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
For another year, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste have partnered to tackle chewing gum litter
Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, acknowledged the challenge of cleaning up gum litter. She said: “We know this won’t be solved overnight, even in areas where the gum has been cleaned up, but we are confident that together, we can tackle this sticky problem.”
Chewing gum removal project is part of the city’s broader commitment to cleanliness and sustainability, alongside projects such as Autumn Litter Blitz.
All photos: Bristol Waste
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