Government must act to clean up Chewing Gum mess - Armstrong
Ulster Unionist Mid Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong has said that government must act to ensure chewing gum no longer messes up our streets and public spaces.
Following on from chewing gum tax proposals put forward by Labour MP David Crausby in Commons this week, Mr Armstrong said: “This is an issue which I have been interested in for some time. In December 2002 and again in March 2003 I wrote to government Ministers detailing proposals for a chewing gum tax to be introduced in the United Kingdom.
“The cost of cleaning chewing gum from our streets is absolutely enormous. Recently it was reported that UK local authorities pay out £150 million a year to clean it up.
“We shouldn’t have to put up with seeing our pavements covered in gum. The clean-up process is laborious and it is somewhat disheartening to see pavements quickly fouled up again.”
He added: “The concept of biodegradable chewing gum has also been circulating for some time now. I would like to see companies innovate and deliver on a biodegradable product.
“In the meantime, people should change their behaviour and dispose of chewing gum properly. If they do not, then a tax on the product to fund clean up costs may be the only way of resolving the situation.
“The bottomline is that carelessly disposing of chewing gum may seem to be only a minor indiscretion but it incurs huge expense that the ratepayer could well do without.
“I renew my call for Government to seriously consider introducing a chewing gum tax from which revenues should be reinvested into the whole issue of waste management.”