Chewing gum removal machine at a street near you

Date published: 05 November 2009

If gum stuck on pavements is a real sticking point, worry no more.

As part Rochdale Council’s war on chewing gum litter, residents and businesses can now request the council’s chewing gum removal machine free of charge.

The machine allows the council’s street cleaning teams to remove gum from pavements much more efficiently by using environmentally friendly chemicals. Previously, power hoses were used to eradicate gum from footpaths, which often meant having to close public rights of way due to spray.

Last month the council launched a campaign, funded by the Keep Britain Tidy Group’s Chewing Gum Action Group, to remind chewers that dropping gum is littering, and to put it in the bin after chewing.

Councillor Irene Davidson, cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability on Rochdale Council, said: “We introduced the chewing gum machine a couple of years ago following consultation with the public to help stay on top of chewing gum on the borough’s highest footfall areas. We’ve introduced these machines following consultation with the public to ensure our street operatives can stay on top of cigarette ends and chewing gum on the borough’s busiest footpaths.

“We’re determined to make the borough a cleaner and more attractive place for everyone, and that goes for busy urban areas too.”