All the signage available in the prevention package has been tested in pilots, where we've worked with local authority partners around the country to trial interventions designed for specific littering hotspots. We used new evaluation methods, providing unprecedented robustness in proving effectiveness.
Each intervention has been proven to reduce littered gum by at least a third and in many cases up to 64%, whilst being easy to execute and highly scalable. This effect is sustained over the long term - a single campaign can be retained for up to a year before starting to lose effectiveness.
In addition, our tests showed that the signage can be more than twice as effective as cleansing alone. A site that has only been cleaned will return to a normal rate of gum littering within just four months.
Given the considerable expense of removing littered gum, this has important implications, allowing councils to make cleansing and litter prevention budgets go much further.
“We were really surprised and happy to see the scale and effectiveness of the signs. Our campaign pointing out bins around bus stops on Islington High Street halved gum littering in the area. Being able to access free materials proven to help us save money and keep our local environment clean is a win-win for us.” Islington Council