A SCHEME that recycles discarded chewing gum into material for football pitches has been launched in an Accrington shopping centre.

The Arndale Centre has installed four Gummy Bins' at its main entrances in a bid to stop the sticky substance being thrown across its floors.

Shoppers can now dispose of their chewing gum responsibly, rather than dropping it on the tiles and carpets.

Centre deputy manager Liz Caddy said: "A few weeks ago we had new matting fitted by the doors and within two days it was absolutely covered in chewing gum.

"It looks disgusting and is very difficult to get off.

"The new bins have only recently been installed and already they are making a huge difference.

"It is also really good to know that as well as having a tidier centre we are helping the environment by recycling the gum."

The bins, which cost around £50 each, hold a cartridge for collecting discarded chewing gum.

Full cartridges are stored in a large Eco Bin which are then taken to a recycling depot.

The chewing gum is sifted to remove foreign objects, treated and chopped into little pieces.

The end product can be used for a number of purposes including underlay on running tracks or drainage systems for football pitches.

The cartridges are sterilised and returned to the Arndale Centre.

A piece of gum costs 3p to buy but can cost from 10p to £1.50 per piece to clean up.

Last year the government spent £150m on clearing up chewing gum - the equivalent to salaries for 30,000 teachers.

A spokesman for Gummy Bins said: "The range of innovative, quirky bins offers a convenient way for people to dispose of their gum, knowing that they can make a positive contribution to the environment at the same time.

"Gummy Bins has achieved a major breakthrough in the long-standing chewing gum problem by identifying that, given the opportunity to recycle their gum, the vast majority of people would use a Gummy Bin rather than throw their gum thoughtlessly away."

Blackburn with Darwen Council also trialled the bins in the town centre in June this year and retained them due to their success.