FOI request (FOIR-735674988)

Chewing Gum Removal Costs

Requested Thu 31 July 2025
Responded Wed 06 August 2025

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information regarding chewing gum removal for the financial years 2019/20 to 2023/24 inclusive:

1. Chewing Gum Removal Costs

a. The total cost incurred by the council for chewing gum removal in each of these years.

2. Area Covered

a. If recorded, the approximate area cleaned (in square metres) for each year.

3. External Funding

a. Has the council received any external funding (for example, from DEFRA or Keep Britain Tidy) specifically for chewing gum removal during this period?

b. If yes, please provide the amount received and year awarded.

4. If your authority does not hold chewing gum removal costs separately from general street cleansing budgets, please confirm:

a. Whether chewing gum removal is carried out at all.

b. If so, whether it is delivered as part of broader cleansing operations.

Please provide the data in spreadsheet or tabular format if possible.

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Response

1a. Information not held. The removal of chewing gum is including within the total cost of street cleansing and therefore cannot be split out.

2a. Information not held.

3a. No.

3b. Not applicable.

4a. Yes.

4b. Please see response to 1a.