Chewing gum stains in Wallsend town centre are being blitzed thanks to a new operation by the council.
A dedicated team armed with specialist equipment is tackling sticky pavements in and around the high street.
The council secured funding by Keep Britain Tidy to purchase new cleaning kit and hire new staff to get the job done.
The fully motorised trucks are fitted with large waste and recycling bins, built-in gum removers and litter-picking gear, making it quicker and easier to clear chewing gum, litter and other stubborn stains from the streets.
New signs have been put in place to remind people to bin their gum.
The project follows a similar effort in North Shields in 2023, which gave the town centre streets a thorough clean.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Chewing gum stains are an eyesore and notoriously difficult and costly to remove. As well as making our pavements look untidy, they stick to people’s shoes, bike wheels, prams and wheelchairs – and once they’re trodden in, they can stay there for years.
“This funding gives us the tools we need to tackle the problem more effectively and we expect it to have a real impact on the cleanliness and overall appearance of streets in Wallsend.
“Hopefully the signage we’ve put up will also discourage people from dropping gum in future. Once the pavements are cleaned, we must remind everyone that all litter, including gum, belongs in the bin. Together, we can create a cleaner and greener borough for all to enjoy.”
Chewing gum removal costs UK councils an estimated £7 million every year. Keep Britain Tidy reports that around 77% of England’s streets – and 99% of retail sites – are stained with gum.
The Chewing Gum Task Force, which supports projects like this, is backed by major gum producers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, who have pledged up to £10 million over five years to help councils nationwide tackle gum littering.