Production of all models is to recommence. All sales enquries should be redirected to the Straight plc offices in Leeds.

The Money Programme has featured Gummy Bins in its “Chewing gum wars” episode, broadcast on BBC2 on Friday 25th May. The programme highlighted the on-going battle between Wrigleys and Cadbury for dominance in the UK chewing gum market after Cadbury introduced four new ranges of gum in March 2007. Drawing attention to the consequences of gum use and gum dropping behaviour in particular, the programme featured a Gummy Bins® installation in Solihull, West Midlands. Solihull Council achieved the top performing result in DEFRA’s 2006 chewing gum trial with a 72% reduction in gum litter, compared to an average reduction of 37% reported by 15 other councils.

A spokesman for Gummy Bins® was delighted that Solihull Council and its Gummy Bins® installation appeared on the programme: “It’s great to see the team at Solihull Council receive the recognition they deserve for their anti chewing gum litter campaigns. We’re proud to be involved in their scheme and to demonstrate that, by using the Gummy Bins’ approach to the problem, results can be dramatically improved.”

In 2006, DEFRA funded anti chewing gum litter campaigns with 15 councils around the UK. Solihull Council was the only Gummy Bins® installation and topped the trial with a reduction of 72% in chewing gum litter in the vicinity of the bins. This is almost twice the average reduction rate of 37% reported from the overall trial.

16 further councils have just qualified for DEFRA funding for chewing gum litter campaigns in 2007. For more information, please see the DEFRA website:

• 2006 trial results: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070302a.htm
• 2007 trial announcement: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070514c.htm

Figures published on 2 nd March by DEFRA's Chewing Gum Action Group showed that the Gummy Bins® chewing gum disposal and recycling system at Solihull MBC was the most effective in the trial. It reduced chewing gum litter by 72% over a six month period in 2006, compared to an average reduction of 37% across a total of 15 local authorities taking part (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070302a.htm). Gummy Bins® has a positive impact on long-standing town centre management issues; improving hygiene, increasing foot traffic and helping to reduce council tax bills through savings in cleaning costs.

Solihull Council's Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, Councillor David Bell, was delighted with the outcome: "Gummy Bins® are a great way to encourage people to dispose of their gum responsibly, and one of the reasons why Solihull 's campaign had such a positive impact. We are delighted to hear that our campaign was the most successful of all those run last summer".

Straight plc, sole UK distributor of Gummy Bins to local authorities said "Local authorities spend on average £15,000 per year clearing up unsightly, unhygienic chewing gum litter. Recent legislation has helped raise awareness of the problem, but the real solution is to persuade people to dispose of their waste gum responsibly. This is a great result from the DEFRA trial".

The Chewing Gum Action Group is inviting local authorities to apply for paid-for advertising to support campaigns to tackle the issue of chewing gum litter.

For more information, contact Straight plc, on 0113 245 2244 or visit www.straight.co.uk.

The agreement is Gummy Bins®' first international distributorship award, giving Recycle Media Group exclusive rights to sell the entire Gummy Bins® product range in North America.

Recycle Media Corp (RMC) is a full service advertising and marketing company that specialises in promoting environmental causes for public outreach and the educational sector. It has worked for clients such as Waste Management, the largest waste hauler in the US; produced high end Public Service Announcements for cities and counties throughout California; and also created and markets THE REUSERS CLUB (activity books, stickers and other recycling promotional items) which have are popular with cities and schools across North America.

Robert Chasin, Sales & Marketing Director at RMC, explains how the agreement with Gummy Bins® is a perfect fit with the company's corporate objectives: "RMC is all about changing people's behaviour around important environmental issues. This distributorship is a fantastic opportunity for RMC to be involved in helping to solve the chewing gum problem in North America.

"US cities want to appear clean; especially for tourists. Unfortunately chewing gum litter is more than just a blemish on city sidewalks; there's a whole culture surrounding it. Now RMC is able to provide a proven, cost effective solution."

Chewing gum litter is one of the most difficult forms of litter to remove, but it can be avoided with chewing gum bins and proper outreach campaigns. Gummy Bins® has already proved that there are tremendous maintenance cost savings to cities, schools, shopping centre owners, sports stadiums and other locations. As a result of the distributorship award, RMC has established a strategic alliance a nationwide marketing company actively involved with cities and schools.