Helpful Tips to Prevent Chewing Gum Litter
The UK chewing gum market is worth over £200 million, yet most brands contain plastic (labelled as ‘gum base’ made with the same stuff used for glue and tyres). Doctors are not fans of chewing gum, saying over-use can lead to jaw pain, headaches, diarrhoea and tooth decay.
Gum is lethal to pets, birds and wildlife if licked, due to sweetener xylitol. As most gum is littered on streets, it’s so important to pick it up (there should be pack warnings).
It’s not true that chewing gum stays in your stomach if you swallow it, but you should not swallow it all the same. Same with bubble gum (even more of a choking hazard if a child blows bubbles).
The main reason why people chew gum is to freshen the breath. Far easier to drink more water, give up smoking and press a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth for 90 seconds and press on it with your tongue (nature’s instant breath-freshener!) Do not use gum if you have fillings or dentures.
In Singapore, it’s illegal to chew gum unless prescribed by a doctor or dentist.
Councils are responsible for clearing it up on public land and private landowners (including shops) are responsible for cleaning it up on public land. If they don’t (no matter who dropped it) you can report it at Fix My Street and councils can serve litter abatement orders.
Risks for Wildlife and Pets
Dropped gum brings real risks to animals too. Many gums contain xylitol, a sweetener that’s harmless to humans but highly toxic to dogs, cats, and some wildlife. If animals eat discarded gum, even a small amount of xylitol can cause severe illness or worse.
On top of that, birds and small creatures can mistake gum pieces for food, risking choking or digestive blockages.
Ask Councils to Install Gumdrop Bins
The Gumdrop Bin is an ingenious invention by a Brighton designer. The bright pink ‘ball-shaped bins’ take gum that is then sent off when full to make into new gum bins.
The company also makes personal gum bins that once full, you can download a freepost label to send it off, and get discounts on new ones. Collectively, the company is saving clients (including schools and offices) over £1 million in cleaning bills.
One full bin contains 500 pieces of gum (enough to make 3 new bins) and can be permanently mounted to the wall or posts in shopping centres, football stadiums, public toilets, bus stops and train stations, supermarkets, car parks, theme parks, cinemas, pubs and anywhere else.
Just sign up to receive your Gumdrop bins and a welcome pack within days. The bad news is that in some trials, people have inexplicably been ripping them off posts to take home as souvenirs.
What’s Exactly in Chewing and Bubble Gum?
Wrigley (owned by the massive multi-national brand Mars) is the world’s largest chewing gum brand. Like most gum brands, it was originally made from chicle (latex) but now is more plastic and xylitol. It owns nearly all the main brands, which are a mix of pet-lethal xylitol, aspartame (an artificial sweetener) and sorbitol (which can cause laxative effects, in large amounts).
Hubba Bubba (bubble gum) contains corn syrup (a non-natural alternative to sugar) aspartame (cause artificial sweetener), BHT (a lab-made preservative that is medically used to treat genital herpes) and artificial dyes including blue lake 1 (linked to all kinds of issues) and yellow lake 5 (a dye that you remember was removed from fish fingers and orange squash, for sending children off the wall).
Switch to Organic Mints Instead
Copy your grandpa, and carry a tin of organic mints in your pocket. Does the same thing, tastes better and won’t give you jaw ache! Max’s Organic Mints (The Netherlands) and Vermints (US) are two good brands.
How to Easily Remove Stuck-on Gum
The simplest method is to rub the gum with ice (or freeze the item, then use a spoon or paint scraper to remove. Alternatively, heat white vinegar and use an old toothbrush to soften (you can sprinkle bicarbonate of soda to fizz and dissolve stubborn gum). Canned air (used to clean in-between computer keys) is also good.
To remove gum stuck in your hair, cover with olive oil (or peanut butter – not near dogs or they’ll lick your head!). Wait a few minutes, and it should come out easily, then wash your hair.
