England's £7m war on chewing gum litter kicks off with industry backing

A new scheme has launched to tackle chewing gum litter across England's streets. Currently, around 87% of the country's roads are stained with discarded gum, according to charity Keep Britain Tidy. The government-backed initiative aims to clean up existing waste and prevent further littering.

The programme will be led by Keep Britain Tidy, working alongside major companies like Mars Wrigley, GlaxoSmithKline, and Perfetti Van Melle. These firms have joined forces to fund the removal of historic gum waste and promote better disposal habits. The annual cost of cleaning up gum litter is estimated at £7 million, a burden currently shouldered by taxpayers.

Fifteen British towns and local authorities will benefit directly from the scheme, as part of the UK's Town Deals programme. The investment also aligns with broader government efforts to regenerate high streets and improve public spaces. Environment minister Rebecca Pow highlighted that the project will help reduce littering while saving public money.

Alison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, welcomed the collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and industry partners. She described the initiative as a key step in making streets cleaner and encouraging responsible behaviour.

The taskforce will focus on removing existing gum stains and discouraging future littering. With support from both the government and private sector, the scheme aims to cut costs and improve the appearance of England's streets. The 15 selected towns will see immediate changes as part of the wider regeneration plan.