Environmental roadshow leaves a lasting impact on Limerick students

THE GUM Litter Taskforce's (GLT) Bin It! Roadshow made a memorable stop in Limerick last week, aiming to instill positive behavioral changes in students' attitudes toward gum litter.

The week-long initiative saw active participation from students at Laurel Hill Colaiste FJC and Mungret Community College in hour-long workshops designed to educate and inspire responsible litter disposal.

The Bin It! Roadshow, an integral component of GLT's gum litter education campaign, employs fun actor-led workshops and interactive learning materials to convey the importance of proper gum litter disposal to schoolchildren. This year's roadshow marks its largest scale to date, with performances slated for 70 schools nationwide.

For schools not part of the current roadshow, GLT continues its commitment to education by providing valuable lesson plan materials on its website. The initiative has already reached over 730 schools across Ireland, emphasizing the widespread impact of GLT's mission.

Jonathon McDade, Chairperson of the Gum Litter Taskforce, expressed delight at the expansion of this year's Bin It! Roadshow, stating: "[It] provides an important opportunity to engage with young people about the environmental impacts of littering in a positive and interactive way. It's great to see the expansion of the Roadshow this year, reflecting the level of interest we're seeing from schools."

Anne Sheeran, Corporate Affairs Specialist at Mars Ireland, highlighted the significance of the Bin It! Roadshow, saying: "The Bin It! Roadshow is an exciting and extremely important part of the GLT campaign, allowing us to deliver our important messaging to a young and engaged demographic, who are already environmentally conscious and want to make a difference. We are delighted to be visiting 25 counties and reaching so many young people again this year."

The GLT education campaign is comprehensive, extending beyond the Bin It! Roadshow. A summer roadshow travels throughout the country, promoting responsible gum behaviors with the support of local authorities. Additionally, a TV and online advertising campaign, along with the website www.gumlittertaskforce.ie, complements these efforts, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to raising awareness about the impact of gum litter on the environment.