A COUNCIL is trying to stub out a sticky situation in a town centre by installing special bins.

North Hertfordshire Council District (NHDC) unveiled ‘gum and butts’ bins in Letchworth Town Centre on Wednesday in a bid to encourage more people to dispose of their cigarette ends and chewing gum responsibly.

The bins have been placed on lampposts, fences or mounted on walls along Eastcheap and Leys Avenue in the town as part of a pilot in conjunction with Hertfordshire Waster Partnership.

These are the first of a number of new bins, accompanied by new signage to give residents a reminder of how they should dispose of rubbish, that will be installed in the town centre as part of a pilot.

The second phase of the project will be to install on-street recycling bins in key areas across the town centre over the next few weeks. This will mean that people will be able to recycle their unwanted waste paper and drink cans whilst they are away from home.

If the trial in Letchworth GC proves to be a success the council will seek further funding so the bins can rolled out across the district.

Cllr Peter Burt, NHDC’s portfolio holder for waste recycling and the environment, said: “We all know how frustrating it can be to walk in someone’s discarded chewing gum. The new bins will encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly which is better for the community and for the environment we live in.

“Litter negatively impacts on the look and feel of our district and the environment, and costs a significant amount of council taxpayers money to clean it up.”