Sticky subject tackled at new Portlaoise festival
Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald with LCC staff, Nicola Coss, All Abilities and entertainers from Alchemy Arts, as the Gum Litter Taskforce joined the NeuroArt festival in Portlaoise. Photo: Alf Harvey
A STICKY subject was tackled in Portlaoise when a gum litter roadshow rolled into town, during the county’s first-ever NeuroArt Family Festival.
The national Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) joined the fun-filled event on Saturday 22 August, as part of an education campaign urging people to ‘Bin Your Gum When You’re Done.’
Led by All Abilities Ireland, the festival held at The Fort (An Dún) outdoor performance space featured everything from art, music and jugglers to dance displays, local food vendors, workshops and storytelling.
The colourful new festival, the first of its kind in the midlands, celebrated neurodiversity with free sensory-friendly activities for people of all ages and abilities.
The GLT visit, in partnership with Laois Co Council (LCC), aimed to promote responsible gum disposal, reducing litter and the need for costly gum removal while also contributing to cleaner communities.
Throwing chewing gum on the ground not only results in unsightly paving but is also a serious risk to birds and other wildlife. The offence carries a €150 littering fine.
Welcoming the campaign, LCC environmental awareness officer Sam McLeod said: “Having the GLT here in Portlaoise is a positive initiative for the town. It gives us an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of chewing gum litter and, more importantly, encouraging people to dispose of their gum responsibly.”
She added: “Campaigns like this are a great way to engage with the community in a fun and interactive way, while helping to remind people that small changes in behaviour can make a big difference. It was fantastic to see the NeuroArt Family Festival taking place in Portlaoise and it was great to be a part of the event this year.”
According to latest GLT research, littering is viewed as socially unacceptable by more than four in five young people (82 per cent).
Avril Donlon, gum litter campaign manager at Food Drink Ireland, commented: "This latest research shows real progress, with more people recognising that littering is unacceptable and taking action.
“Encouragingly, more than nine in 10 people now report properly disposing of their chewing gum, the highest level recorded since the campaign began in 2007 and a major shift in public behaviour.”
More information and educational resources are available at gumlittertaskforce.ie.
