Since we are in the months of the Great American Clean Up, I’m highlighting each day something that I find on the streets as litter. Although I have loved balloons all my life, I do not like to find them in the environment.
Balloons are dangerous to wildlife who might ingest them. If I had not picked this balloon up off the street, it would have washed into the storm drain heading for the river and eventually the oceans. If an animal did not consume it on its journey, it would have wound up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Please remember to remove balloons when they are used outside for birthday parties or open houses.
Tags: Environment | Recycling
Natalie Adcock said,
Thursday, March 5, 2009 @ 11:38 am
Wow – I never thought of balloons that way before! But you are right they are a danger to animals. i will be sure to make sure mine are disposed of correctly at the next birthday!
Top Ten Tidbits « Natalie Adcock’s Blog said,
Friday, March 6, 2009 @ 9:09 am
[...] We all like to have balloons hanging outside at birthday parties but never really stop to think about how it affects the [...]
Stacey said,
Friday, March 27, 2009 @ 11:01 am
I am a balloon artist and heavily promote the responsible use of balloons. They should never be left outside and I don’t think the ‘mylar’ ones should ever be USED outside.
I have been trying to find ways to recycle balloons. I compost latex scraps that are too small to use again – or I shred them for stuffing in other craft projects. Old foil balloons can be reused in several ways. You can trun them into strips and crochet or knit them into something. I have laminated them and turned them into purses and have given them to artists for use in projects.
Balloons are fun – and I love my job. My hope is that people will use some responsibility when enjoying them.
Wedding Balloons are just a bad idea for the enviroment | So You're EnGAYged, A Gay Wedding Blog said,
Monday, August 31, 2009 @ 6:38 am
[...] more about balloons are their harmful effect on our world: here, here, here, here, here, and [...]