Galway City Council tackles chewing gum problem on streets

It is one of the major blights on our public walkways, but Galway City Council now has the backing of a national organisation to tackle its chewing gum litter problem.

Although the local authority cannot say with certainty what it costs, in public money, to specifically clean gum from the streets, the amount of man-hours it takes up renders the figure immeasurable.

“It spoils footpaths, particular on the Prom and the plaza on Eyre Square where there is light coloured paving,” a spokesperson said.

“We have tried various methods over the years, but it is extremely difficult to remove. We have used scrapers, small road cleaners, and power washing, and sometimes it is successful.”

For the second year in a row, Galway City Council is an active participant in the national Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) awareness campaign, which includes representatives from the chewing gum industry, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and Food and Drink Industry Ireland.

“The campaign delivers a serious message, in a lively and creative way, about keeping our streets and footpaths clean of gum litter so I’m delighted to lend my support to this innovative and catchy campaign,” Galway City Council’s Anne Ruane said. 

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