Preston City Council has received a £17,000 grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by Keep Britain Tidy, to help clean up chewing gum and reduce gum littering across the city.
The funding will be used to purchase specialist equipment, including an EcoGum truck and a backpack-mounted gum removal machine. The equipment uses a combination of heat and detergent to soften and lift chewing gum from paving stones, helping crews tackle gum staining more effectively.
Alongside physical cleaning, the council will encourage people to dispose of gum responsibly through targeted signage and public awareness campaigns. The programme will focus on Preston city centre and areas around Cardinal Newman College and the University of Lancashire.
The grant will help the council build its long-term capacity to tackle chewing gum litter, with the equipment remaining in use throughout the year.
Councillor Cllr Zafar Coupland, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Neighbourhood Services, said:
This grant will help us keep Preston looking its best and strengthen our ability to tackle chewing gum litter throughout the year.
"Chewing gum may seem like a small issue, but when it is dropped on our streets it can be difficult and costly to remove. By investing in specialist equipment, including a new EcoGum truck, and combining this with public awareness campaigns, we can improve the appearance of our public spaces and encourage everyone to take pride in Preston by disposing of their gum responsibly.
The Chewing Gum Task Force is funded by major gum manufacturers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, with a nationwide investment of up to £10 million over five years.
According to Keep Britain Tidy, around 77% of England's streets and 99% of retail sites are stained with chewing gum.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said:
While chewing gum litter remains a stubborn eyesore in our public spaces, the good news is that this scheme is already driving major improvements.
"As an environmental charity, we know that every piece of gum dropped irresponsibly damages the environment, taking years to break down naturally, while also leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for costly clean-up operations.
"Everyone in Preston can play a part in creating cleaner, greener streets for all by binning their gum properly.
