Gum Litter Taskforce comes to Athy
THE Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT), in partnership with Kildare County Council, made a stop of its 2026 Summer Roadshow in Athy, promoting responsible gum disposal, cleaner communities and greater awareness of Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
The visit comes as research from the Gum Litter Taskforce reveals that littering is now viewed as socially unacceptable by more than 4 in 5 (82 per cent) young people. However, almost 1 in 4 young people still do not regard chewing gum as litter, highlighting the need for continued education and awareness.
Encouragingly, more than 9 in 10 people (92%) now report properly disposing of their chewing gum – the highest level recorded since the campaign began in 2007.
Welcoming the campaign, Marian Higgins, director of services of climate, community, environment and water at Kildare County Council, said: "Keeping Kildare’s streets, parks and public spaces clean requires a collective effort. Campaigns such as the Gum Litter Taskforce help raise awareness of the impact of littering while reducing the need for costly gum removal works.
“By encouraging people to bin their gum when they're done, we can all play a role in creating cleaner, more attractive communities and supporting a more sustainable approach to waste management."
Avril Donlon, gum litter campaign manager at Food Drink Ireland, added: "This latest research shows real progress, with more young people recognising that littering is unacceptable and taking action. Our focus remains on making responsible gum disposal the norm and continuing to build on the positive behaviours we are seeing across communities nationwide."
Anne Sheeran, corporate affairs manager at Mars Wrigley, said: “This campaign is delivering measurable change and helping to shape positive habits, with more people choosing to bin their gum and encouraging others to do the same. Through continued collaboration, we can build on this progress and further reduce gum litter in our communities.” The Summer Roadshow will visit locations nationwide throughout June, July and August, while the Bin It! programme will return to schools from October.
Educational resources are available at www.gumlittertaskforce.ie.
