Lord Mayor Brendan Carr will launch Dublin City Council’s 2017 Gum Litter Awareness Campaign, today, Thursday, 18th May, at 11.00am in St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. The Campaign is running in conjunction with the National Gum Litter Taskforce Campaign recently launched by Minister Denis Naughten, Minister for Communication, Climate Change and the Environment. Dublin City Council’s Waste Management staff will be handing out free gum wraps to passersby at the launch.

This is Dublin City Council’s third year running the current Campaign with huge success to date.  The public’s behaviour in disposing of gum litter responsibly has improved dramatically.

Lord Mayor Brendan Carr commented “There has been a noticeable reduction in the amount of gum litter on the streets since the campaign first started three years ago. It is obvious the Gum Litter Awareness Campaign is working to educate people in changing their behaviour in disposing of their gum”.

“Dublin City Council is mindful that awareness should start at a young age. We plan to visit schools again during the coming months to bring the awareness message to  pupils. People are now more aware of the environmental impact of dropping gum on the street so they dispose of their gum appropriately and therefore do not risk a litter fine of €150”, said Bernie Lillis, Litter Prevention Officer, Dublin City Council.

According to research carried out by the National Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) during the 2016 campaign, the highest number of people to date (93%) agree that dropping gum is littering with almost six in seven people (84%) claiming they always dispose of their gum correctly.