Local hospitals install chewing gum bins

The local health trust that runs Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals is encouraging patients, visitors and staff to dispose of their used chewing gum in new bright pink, dedicated bins.

The new Gumdrops are made out of recycled chewing gum and have been installed at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital and Montagu Hospital in the hopes of improving unsightly chewing gum across the sites which is very costly to remove.

Using eco-friendly containers, gum is removed from the bin and recycled into plastic, which is used to create more Gumdrops, as well as wellington boots, coffee cups and mobile phone covers.

Suzy Brain England, chair of the board for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, explains: “Used chewing gum causes a huge litter problem across all of our sites. Installing these bins encourages visitors to dispose of their used gum ensuring that waste is not stuck on pavements and roads around our hospitals which is very unsightly. The bins are hard to miss, being bubble-gum pink in colour, and will save on the cost of cleaning up gum and is part of our commitment to create a clean and healthy environment for patients, visitors, staff and our local community.”