Donal Hickey: Taking on a sticky problem

It probably comes next to dog waste in the disgusting stakes — finding chewing gum stuck on the soles of your shoes or on your clothes. Despite many campaigns, people continue to spit out the gum leaving local authorities with the difficult task of removing it from footpaths and pavements. Last year, for instance, Cork City Council spent €40,000 dealing with the problem.

Next to cigarette butts and packaging, chewing gum is our second most common cause of litter. This is also the international experience. And the cost of removing a piece of gum can be at least three times the retail price of the same piece.