Our top ten sticky facts about chewing gum

• 650,000 metric tonnes of chewing gum were produced worldwide in 2005 and predictions are that the quantity will reach over 1 million tonnes by 2010. That’s equivalent to the weight of 2,423 fully laden Boeing 747-400 planes.
• 935 million packs of gum are chewed by 28 million people in the UK every year. In other words, almost half the UK population chews one piece of gum per day for 47 weeks of the year.
• 80-90% of chewing gum is not disposed of in any litter receptacle.
• The amount of gum spat onto our pavements every year is equivalent to the volume of 3 Big Ben clock towers made completely of waste chewing gum.
• After the Smoking Ban was introduced in Ireland, gum use increased by a staggering 30%.
• Modern day based chewing gum was an accidental invention. Thomas Adams, a New York inventor, was trying to make a material for car tyres. Today’s gum is made from the similar synthetic rubbers – hence it’s non-biodegradable.
• The UK Government estimated that it spent £158 million trying to clean up chewing gum in 1997. Independent analysts believe the true cost could be three times this amount.
• One of the UK’s worst chewing gum black spots is London's Oxford Street in Westminster. An estimated 300,000 chewing gum deposits can be found there at any time. Gummy Bins® would love to help the Government solve the chewing gum problem on its own doorstep.
• In April 2006, discarded chewing gum was defined as litter for the first time under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. Gum droppers can be subjected to an on-the-spot fine of up to £80.
• Councils and businesses inherit cleaning responsibilities under the same legislation which encompasses chewing gum, graffiti and fly posters in designated zones. Minimum standards of acceptability must be reached and then maintained.