Mexico City’s Valiant Fight Against Gum Proves Sweet, Fruitful

Mexican officials are sick and tired of seeing gum all over their capital’s sidewalks and are implementing different methods of trying to cut down on instances of spitting gum onto the city’s streets. Possible options include steam-cleaning sidewalks, urging the consumption of natural gum which breaks down more quickly and urging gum-chewers to swallow their Juicy Fruit.

The man behind the campaign to clear up this sticky mess is Mexico City’s director for conservation of public spaces, Ricardo Jaral. He says:

“When you finish chewing a piece of gum, you either have to put in a piece of paper and deposit it in a trash receptacle, or swallow it.”

And, in response to remarks that swallowing gum on a regular basis is probably not a terribly wise course of action, Jaral scoffs:

“I’ve always swallowed my gum, and it’s never done me any harm.”

The natural gum — as opposed to the synthetic sort that most people chew — breaks down easily and pulverizes somewhat when dried, making it easier to clean. But, officials say, they’re quite aware that the people who already chew organic, environmentally friendly chicle are probably not the same people who spit gum onto the sidewalk.

There is, of course, Singapore’s gum-spitting punishement: Caning. Effective and kinky. Everyone wins!

Gulp! Mexico tells citizens to swallow their gum [Yahoo]