In Britain, chewing gum has become a serious social problem. It is the second most common source of litter, behind cigarette butts. As it is made from a synthetic rubber, it is not biodegradable. Every year, the government spends nearly ?50 million to get rid of them. The Parliament even proposes taxing chewing gum companies if they don’t find ways to solve the problem.
A British designer, Anna Bullus, has found a creative way to clean up the streets. She wanted to get rid of chewing gums and at the same time turn them into useful objects. She has launched her gum recycling project by installing bright pink bins called Gumdrops on the streets. The bins are made from recycled gum and go with a message saying that any gum dropped into the bin will be recycled. Bullus said, “One of the litters I found was a piece of chewing gum and as a designer I was completely amazed there was nothing actually being done to recycle it.”
Christine Kim Staff Reporter (christine@timescore.co.kr)
1. What is the most common source of litter in the U.K.?
2. What is the second common source of litter in the U.K.?
3. What solution did Anna Bullus come up with?
1. Do you think chewing gum is a big source of litter in Korea?
2. What ways to reduce the amount of litter in Korea can you suggest?
3. Do you think that chewing gums must be banned?
In Britain, chewing gum has become a serious social problem. It is the second most common source of litter, behind cigarette butts. As it is made from a synthetic rubber, it is not biodegradable. Every year, the government spends nearly ?50 million to get rid of them. The Parliament even proposes taxing chewing gum companies if they don’t find ways to solve the problem.
