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 supports our sustainability goals using our repurposed electric milk float. "Chewing gum litter affects our city's beauty and accessibility. Last year's clean-up showed promising results.
"We're committed to making a lasting impact and keeping Oxford clean for everyone." Research by Behaviour Change, a social enterprise, shows areas cleaned in the first year of the scheme saw fewer incidents of gum littering six months after the clean-up. The Chewing Gum Task Force, established by Defra and operated by Keep Britain Tidy, focuses on encouraging long-term behavioural changes to reduce gum littering.
Allison Ogden-Newton, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, added: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up "However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.".
