Gum plan launched by council

Craigavon Borough Councils Community Engagement Officer, Pamela Hanna looks on with Mr Flanagan, Principal, St Pauls Junior High School, Lurgan, Vice-Principal, Fionnuala Moore and Year 9 pupils Patrick Lavery, Cian France and James Judge as fellow pupil Mark Mulholland gets a hands on demonstration of the Councils new gum-busting machine from Waste Managements Brendan Geddis and John Fryers.

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Caption:
Craigavon Borough Councils Community Engagement Officer, Pamela Hanna (centre) hands out some of the Gum Rap pouches to Fionnuala Moore, Vice-Principal, Mark Mulholland, Patrick Lavery, Cian France and James Judge, Year 9 pupils from St Pauls Junior High School, Lurgan. The pouches are part of an initiative by Council to urging young people to not throw down their used chewing gum. — Craigavon Borough Councils Community Engagement Officer, Pamela Hanna looks on with Mr Flanagan, Principal, St Pauls Junior High School, Lurgan, Vice-Principal, Fionnuala Moore and Year 9 pupils Patrick Lavery, Cian France and James Judge as fellow pupil Mark Mulholland gets a hands on demonstration of the Councils new gum-busting machine from Waste Managements Brendan Geddis and John Fryers. Image: IMG_3335 Caption: Craigavon Borough Councils Community Engagement Officer, Pamela Hanna (centre) hands out some of the Gum Rap pouches to Fionnuala Moore, Vice-Principal, Mark Mulholland, Patrick Lavery, Cian France and James Judge, Year 9 pupils from St Pauls Junior High School, Lurgan. The pouches are part of an initiative by Council to urging young people to not throw down their used chewing gum.

The Gum-Rap is a unique folded cardboard pack including paper sheets to responsibly dispose of chewing gum in a discreet, clean and non-sticky way.

“The Gum-Rap campaign is a positive step in tackling the issue of chewing gum. Council hope in providing these small, convenient and eco-friendly pouches it will help to draw people’s attention, especially young people, to this ever going problem and reinforce the message that it is not okay to litter.

“We must all take responsibility for our actions, understand their impact on our environment and take small steps to help instil a sense of pride and improve the image of our local area,” said Pamela Hanna, Community Engagement Officer.

Environmental Wardens, who patrol the Borough, are passing the Gum-Raps out to young people on the street and they will also be available at the Civic Centre, community and leisure centres and will be made available to local schools so they can then pass them on to their pupils.

The Environmental Services Department is also encouraging residents to request the Gum-Raps either for their own usage or for family members or friends.

In 2014 Craigavon Borough Council are taking a pro-active approach to address the issue of chewing gum associated litter within the Borough.

In April secondary schools, young persons groups and community and leisure centres were given chewing gum litter posters to display within their premises which conveyed the anti-litter message and the giveaway of the Gum-Raps further supports this ongoing campaign.

In response to the call for action from Councillors Environmental Services purchased new machinery; the ‘Gum Buster’ to remove chewing gum from the pavements within the Borough.

For further information regarding ongoing litter initiatives and campaigns or to request the Gum-Rap contact Pamela Hanna on 028 3831 2534.