By Alex Costello
The problem, which residents have complained about, is going to be taken care of, most likely by Gum Busters, a company which uses a patented machine to remove all traces of gum from surfaces.
"It's a patented system that combines steam with an environmentally-safe chemical and a brass brush which dissolves gum on contact," said Anthony MulŽ, executive director and vice president of Gum Busters. "Within seconds, the gum is completely gone."
The brush is held over the gum, and then the gum is shot with steam for a second or two, followed by a bit of the Gum Busters' chemical, less than an ounce.
"As soon as the steam softens the gum, the chemical is released, and with the motion of the brush, all three of those things combine to remove the gum," said MulŽ. "It vaporizes it."
Gum Busters showed off the machine to village officials during a demonstration on July 23. Mayor Jim Ruzicka, who attended the demonstration, was amazed with the results.
"It's pretty impressive," Ruzicka said. "It's just a slow process."
The village is currently in negotiations with Gum Busters - which was once featured on the Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" - to clean up the town. Gum Busters is assessing the cost of cleaning Island park streets because, as MulŽ pointed out, it is a big area. Officials said it will most likely be worth the price because Gum Busters can get rid of the gum, and the unsightly stains it leaves behind, better than the village can.
"We've done power-washing, and you get the gum out, but the black stain stays in the concrete," said Ruzicka. "This gets rid of the stain also."
Comments about this story? Acostello@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 207.
