Gum bins removed from Horsham town centre after less than three months

Horsham District Council has confirmed that the bins, installed in August and costing £216 in total, ‘weren’t being used sufficiently’, and the project has been scrapped.

The ‘Gumdrop’ bins have been pulled halfway through a six month trial.

They were aimed to encourage gum chewers to dispose of their gum responsibly, with the bins’ contents recycled into items such as tyres, toys and mobile phone covers.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We trialled an initiative whereby Gumdrop bins were placed in several key locations throughout the town during the summer to encourage visitors to dispose of their chewing gum responsibly.

“We monitored the extent to which the bins were being used and concluded that they weren’t being used sufficiently to warrant continuing with the trial.

“We spend over £5,000 per year removing chewing gum from the town centre streets in Horsham and are therefore always looking at opportunities to reduce this form of litter.”

Earlier this month, the County Times asked on Facebook whether the bins were useful or a target of vandalism, after reader Sarah Pickthall called for a ‘return of the gum bins’.

Paige Barrington said: “Vandalism target. Waste of money...use the normal bins.”

However, Jane O’Brien Etheridge said: “It was great for kids to see where to put their gum. Bring them back!”