Which waste streams end up in the residual waste by default, rightly or wrongly? In this series, we put items like fruit nets, wet wipes, or stir sticks on a pedestal one by one to discover if there are solutions for them together. This week: chewing gum.
No more residual waste
During Zero Waste Week, we said goodbye to the residual waste bin at the office. This immediately results in less residual waste because we think more carefully about waste separation. But it also brings challenges to light. Where do you put items that are normally residual waste or have no clear destination? At our office, these items now end up in a showcase, which encourages us to find solutions together.
Chewing gum
Today, we discuss chewing gum. In a container full of waste, leftover chewing gum may seem negligible. However, NL Schoon estimated in 2020 that about 3.5 million kg of chewing gum was sold. After use, or chewing, about 35% x 3.5 million kg = 1.2 million kg of residue remains. This ends up either in the residual waste bin or sometimes even on the street.
Chewed gum could be seen as a food residue. So why can't gum be included with organic waste?
Chewing gum can be made not only from sugar but also from synthetic polymers like polyethylene and plasticizers. These components make the gum stretchy and soft. Gum is essentially a plastic product; the gum base is made from oil. Consequently, chewing gum decomposes very slowly. It takes about 20 to 25 years to break down, much longer than the average organic waste, and thus it cannot be processed in the same system. Waste processing companies follow a fixed procedure that lasts several weeks, which is not long enough for chewing gum to compost.
What can we do?
Since gum cannot go with organic waste, what can we do?
Solution 1: Reuse for shoe soles
It turns out that chewing gum is very suitable as a material for producing a new type of rubber. A collaboration between an advertising agency, the specialized company Gum-Tec®, and an Amsterdam fashion brand resulted in the Gumshoe. The Gumshoe is a shoe with a sole made from chewed chewing gum collected from the streets.
Solution 2: Reuse for skateboard wheels
There are inspiring initiatives in the field of reusing chewing gum for skateboard wheels. Two students in France developed an imaginary project in collaboration with Mentos and Vans. The idea is that passersby can stick their chewing gum onto a board. The chewed gum would be collected and then mixed and converted into skateboard wheels in factories.
Solution 3: Opt for natural chewing gum
The above solutions focus on processing and reusing chewing gum, but there are also options to avoid the chewing gum waste stream. Various types of chewing gum exist. For example, companies like BenBits sell biodegradable or natural chewing gum. Instead of using plastic derived from oil, a rubber-like material is harvested from suitable trees. The idea is that this type of gum can be separated with organic waste.
Solution 4: Alternative procurement
Another alternative advice for preventing waste is to simply replace chewing gum with mints. Mints are also refreshing and can be completely consumed, eliminating the waste issue altogether.
Solution 5: We welcome your ideas
Do you have ideas or a solution to avoid or sustainably process this waste stream? Let us know. Schedule an appointment or send us an email with your idea or innovation.
