The operation will focus on key locations including George Street, New Inn Hall Street, Carfax, Queens Street, part of St Ebbes, High Street, and St Aldates down to Christchurch Meadows. The grant comes from the Chewing Gum Task Force, a partnership of the UK’s major chewing gum producers, and has been administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for business, culture and an inclusive economy, said: "This year’s grant funding will help us to clean up the city’s streets, but we need your help to keep them clean.
"By disposing of gum responsibly, we can make sure Oxford’s city centre remains a welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors. "Together, we can tackle this sticky issue and improve our environment." The council said residents, businesses and visitors regularly complain about gum litter.
The removal of chewing gum is labour-intensive, requiring approximately 30 minutes to clean a 15m2 area using a steam cleaner followed by a mechanical sweeper to remove stains. ODS, which will work alongside the city council to clean the streets, uses a repurposed 1973 electric milk float for these tasks, aligning with the city's sustainability efforts. Adrian Moss, city centre and streetscenes service manager, said: "We're excited to use the Chewing Gum Task Force grant from Keep Britain Tidy for a second year to clean gum from key areas.
"This funding helps improve our historic streets' appearance and suppo.