Louth County Council welcomes Gum Litter Taskforce to Dundalk

Louth County Council says it was delighted to welcome the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) to Market Square, Dundalk, last week as part of its nationwide awareness campaign.

The GLT campaign, which has been running successfully across Ireland, aims to educate the public on the environmental impact of gum litter and promote positive behaviour change through interactive events and community engagement. 

On Tuesday last, the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) joined with staff members from the Louth County Council community support team, members of Dundalk Tidy Towns and service users from the Irish Wheelchair Association to deliver a fun, educational, interactive event at The Square to highlight the environmental impact of gum litter and raise awareness of the €150 fine for improper disposal.

Welcoming the campaign back to Louth, Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said: “Hosting the Gum Litter Taskforce in Dundalk’s Market Square is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of responsible litter disposal. This is a fantastic initiative that raises awareness about the negative impacts of gum litter in a fun and engaging way.

"Louth County Council is proud to support campaigns like GLT that encourage responsible litter disposal and help create cleaner, more welcoming communities.”

Louth County Council says it remains committed to supporting initiatives that foster environmental responsibility and enhance the quality of life in our towns and villages.

^{Above: Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, with members of Dundalk Tidy Towns and Louth County Council staff from the community support team}

Launching its sixth cycle, the Gum Litter Taskforce reports that: 92% of people now report properly disposing of their chewing gum, a record high; 85% of 16–34-year-olds now view littering as socially unacceptable, and men remain more likely than women to improperly dispose of chewed gum.

A collaboration between industry, government and local authorities, and funded by Mars Wrigley, this year marks the launch of the campaign’s sixth cycle. 

GLT has seen gum litter reduce by almost 70% since 2007, via a sustained public engagement and education campaign. According to the latest National Litter Pollution Monitoring System data, gum now accounts for just 8.6% of all litter, continuing a downward trend in gum as a component of litter from 26.4% in 2006, and 9.1% in 2021, the end of the previous three-year cycle. 

However, according to the latest research, one in 12 admits that they still drop their gum on the ground, with men more than twice as likely to do so as women. This highlights the continued importance of the campaign.

^{Above: Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council getting involved with the interactive games to highlight the environmental impact of gum litter}

Launching the campaign in Mayo last month, Minister of State with responsibility for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, praised the continued success of the initiative: “I’m delighted to kick off another year of the Gum Litter Taskforce’s Summer Roadshow.

"Since 2007, we have seen clear, measurable change on our streets thanks to the work of the Gum Litter Taskforce. The consistent fall in gum litter shows that education and collaboration are driving real results. This is exactly the kind of behavioural change we need to build a cleaner, greener Ireland.”

Avril Donlon, Gum Litter Campaign Manager at Food Drink Ireland, added: “We are delighted to be kicking off another summer of interactive roadshows. Each year, we continue to see the positive impact this campaign is having on communities across the country. It’s encouraging to know that our efforts are helping more people make the right choice when it comes to gum disposal.”

Anne Sheeran, Corporate Affairs Manager at Mars Wrigley, said: “The Gum Litter Taskforce continues to prove what’s possible through strong partnerships and community-focused messaging. By connecting with younger audiences and reinforcing positive behaviour, we’re not just cleaning up streets – we’re helping to create a culture of personal responsibility. Mars Wrigley is proud to sponsor a campaign that plays such an important role in educating people about proper gum and litter disposal.”

This year’s Summer Roadshow will make 20 stops across 17 counties this Summer. The GLT campaign also includes a school roadshow (‘Bin It!’) which will travel to primary and secondary schools across the country from October, and run an advertising campaign and website, where educational material at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie.