Florida Sets Precedence For Balloon Release Ban For Other States
This might deflate your happiness, but if you’re the type of person that enjoys the tradition of releasing balloons at weddings, birthday parties, and memorials, then a big change is about to come. Lawmakers in more than half a dozen states are moving towards banning the intentional release of balloons into the air.
Critics have long been arguing that the helium-filled balloons pollute the environment and threaten birds and other wildlife when they fall back down to earth. It’s a form of littering, and as of late nationwide, there has been a growing awareness of the issue, prompting legislation in state governments.
Bills to limit the intentional release of balloons are being aired in legislatures in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island and Maine. These states would join California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, all of which already have laws that ban or restrict launches.
However, California’s law applies only to foil balloons, while Connecticut is currently considering tightening the law.
Balloons are a threat to wildlife, entangling shorebirds and choking sea turtles that mistake the balloon for jellyfish and eat them.
Instead of releasing balloons into the air, critics argue that they should be properly disposed of – all balloons should be deflated and thrown out correctly.
By: Maytinee Kramer
