Gummed

Chewing gum was originally a local treat made from chicle. It sated the oral fixations of indigenous Central American workers for centuries. It was adopted and adapted by North American candy makers, augmenting it with more sugar and flavorings, and occasional collectable cards, comics, and trinkets. 

Chewing gum play an important part in the American consciousness. But chicle ejecta coats American walkways and desk undersides. It's a hazard for sandal wearers, an eyesore and cleaning problem for maintenance staff, and the tales of fixing complicated mechanical problems with the substance are unsubstantiated. 

In theory, it could be dissolved and returned safely to the Earth, but there's no money in that technology. Although it resembles one-celled fauna, it does not hold a place on any creature's food chain, so importing a natural predator is not an option. In fact, for a substance originally so natural - the sap of trees - it's remarkably artificial, and a hallmark of modern civilization.