Say NO to Gum

When on the run there a certain items that are a necessity for you to go about your day.  Whether in your purse or in your pocket, these items typically include your wallet, cell phone, and a pack of gum.  Maybe you have a bad taste in your mouth that you want to get rid of, or you didn’t brush your teeth so you have bad breath, or you like to constantly be chewing something… whatever the cause for your gum-chewing is completely up to you.  However, I’m going to tell you that next time you have the urge to chew on a piece of gum from your pocket or one that is offered to you, say NO to gum! 

Gum is made of a base of non-biodegradable materials including natural or synthetic wax, latex, or rubber.  I know that 99.9% of gum-chewers do not swallow their gum and simply dispose of it on the street or under a table or chair.  This creates a problem because gum is non-biodegradable and stays in that spot for a long time.  When you swallow gum, it passes through your system without breaking down.  Knowing this, a red-alert going is probably going off in your mind that gum is bad for the environment.  Gum thrown on the ground can also be eaten by animals and they can die.  Around the world, cities spend millions of dollars cleaning up gum and it is not easy to remove. 

Not only will this save the Earth, it will save you a lot of money.  Let’s say spend about $5 on gum a month, if you stop chewing gum, you’ll save $60 a year!  Therefore, a simple solution is simply not chewing gum.  For some people chewing gum is a habit that is hard to break, so start by reducing the amount you chew and slowly eliminate it.  And if you chew gum as an alternative to brushing your teeth, that’s gross so start brushing your teeth!  If you are wondering if you can recycle gum, the answer is yes!  Some cities (more commonly found in Europe) have gum-recycling drop-boxes.  Visit www.gumdropbin.com or www.gummybin.com to find out more information and encourage your schools or cities to invest in these bins.   You can also use a Gum Rap to put your gum in and prevent it from being stuck to a surface for a long time.  Visit www.gumraps.com to find out more information.  Be EGOlogical, and say NO TO GUM! 

Here are some examples of gum's ability to stick around... literally