Fund planned to rid streets of gum

DEPARTMENT of Environment officials are proposing that chewing gum companies help establish a multi-million euro permanent fund aimed at ridding the country’s streets of chewing gum litter.

Consultant reports have suggested the industry could be asked to pay €4 million-€5m a year to offset the cost of cleaning city and town streets and to fund a major new education programme urging people to “bin and not spit”.

The department is also proposing that chewing gum companies undertake research aimed at making gum “less adhesive”.