Antonine Shopping Centre launch Gumdrop Chewing Gum recycling initiative with Enva

Antonine Shopping Centre, in partnership with Enva, has launched a chewing gum recycling initiative to transform discarded chewing gum into reusable products including wellington boots, frisbees, mobile phone covers and training shoe soles.

Two bright pink, eye-catching Gumdrop bins have been placed in busy external areas of the shopping Centre to encourage shoppers to responsibly dispose of their chewing gum, keeping pathways clean.

The bubble shaped Gumdrop bin is designed specifically for the disposal of waste chewing gum. Chewers simply drop their gum into the Gumdrop, and once full these are returned to Gumdrop Ltd where they are recycled into new Gumdrop bins and other reusable products. Each full Gumdrop can be recycled to manufacture three new Gumdrop bins, which in turn can then be redistributed and the cycle starts again. 

Gumdrops have been shown to reduce chewing gum litter by an average of up to 46% in the first 12 weeks of use. This new closed loop recycling process is becoming a long-term solution for chewing gum litter. 

Antonine Centre Manager, Alan Smillie, says, “Recycling chewing gum back into useful products offers a fantastic circular economy solution to the challenge of sticky chewing gum littered pathways. Our team continually look at improving recycling within the Centre and working with Enva has enabled us to bring this initiative to Antonine Shopping Centre.”

David Coaton, Head of Key Account Management, says, “Enva and Antonine Shopping Centre have been working together since 2017 providing general waste, dry mixed recycling, cardboard, glass, food and WEEE waste collection and recycling services. Our partnership approach has been central to the excellent results driving improvements in compliance, recycling levels and cost reductions, achieving 100% diversion from landfill for all dry materials.”

Antonine Shopping Centre is a 350,000 sq ft (33,000 m2) retail centre located in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. The name is a reference to the Roman Antonine Wall, which passed nearby.