Recycled Gum!?!! Whatever next?

Saying “recycled chewing gum” to someone always get a reaction! People’s faces screw up in disgust as they start to contemplate the possibilities. They’re very relieved to hear that the waste gum isn’t recycled into more gum.
That would be really disgusting!

Gummy Bins® is developing a hygienic disposal and recycling system for waste gum. Each Gummy Bin contains a reusable cartridge which can hold either 250 or 500 pieces of gum. Once inside the bin, the gum is not touched again until it is disposed of or recycled.

The recycling process, which is still being developed, involves removing the gum from the cartriges then then filtering out any loose foreign objects. The gum is then cured with an additive to harden it. The cured, hardened gum is chopped into small pieces and mixed with an aggregate ready for re-use.

The recycled material has various uses, including drainage systems for football pitches and underlay for running tracks. Recycling can begin when national collections of gum achieve a suitable critical mass.