Positive meeting with Wrigley’s over chewing gum levy

Clwyd West AM Darren Millar met with the Senior Vice President of Wrigley’s yesterday to discuss his proposed bill for a 5p levy on chewing gum to help pay for the cost of cleaning up litter.

Wrigley’s Senior Vice President, Rob Peterson, travelled from Chicago for the Cardiff meeting with Darren who, as winner of an Assembly ballot, will next week lead a debate by the Assembly on his proposal for a Chewing Gum Levy Bill. The debate will decide whether or not he will be allowed to introduce a Bill to give effect to the proposal.

　

The proposal states:

　

The purpose of this Bill would be to introduce a 5p levy at the point of sale on each sale of chewing gum packs to help alleviate the country’s growing chewing gum litter problem. The levy would be enforced by local authorities. The proceeds of the levy would go to:

　

1. Improving educational awareness through public campaigns to promote the responsible disposal of chewing gum.

2. Improving enforcement of responsible chewing gum disposal.

3. Assisting local authorities in the cost of removing chewing gum deposits from Wales’ streets.

 

Darren said:

 

"I am looking forward to next week’s debate and hope Assembly Members from all parties will allow this proposal to move forward to more detailed scrutiny.

"My meeting with Wrigley’s this week was useful and I am grateful to them for taking the time to discuss my proposals. I am encouraged by the fact the company gave 7 million euros to support litter education programmes and research into chewing gum that’s easier to clean up after similar plans were proposed in the Republic of Ireland.

"Chewing gum litter is a blight on our streets which is costing councils thousands to remove. The introduction of a small levy on a packet of chewing gum can help tackle this problem and change the behaviour of those who choose to spit their gum onto our streets.

"Enforced by local councils, the proceeds would go towards publicity campaigns encouraging people not to litter. It would also help councils pay to clean up the mess that discarded gum leaves on the streets."

 

　

 

Photo: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with the Senior Vice President of Wrigley’s Rob Peterson.