Litter menace - Tougher action is necessary

OF the many unsightly blots on Ireland’s streetscape, discarded chewing gum is among the worst. Stroll down any busy street and one sees pavements pock-marked with blobs of dirty grey gunge.

Incredibly, these sticky lumps are not regarded as litter by those who engage in the disgusting practice of ejecting spittle-covered gum on the ground. Alternatively, they secrete it beneath the seats of buses, trains or cinemas. Not only is chewing gum a menace, clinging to shoes and clothing, it adds millions to the cost of cleaning up the streets.

In a welcome initiative, Environment Minister John Gormley plans to tackle the litter problem. But it is debatable if the leader of the Greens is going far enough by increasing on-the-spot fines from €125 to €150 in September.