7 years, 5 months and counting…
Balloon release enthusiasts use one single study done decades ago, by a man in the balloon industry, to justify releasing balloons. They claim releasing “biodegradable” latex balloons (such as these) degrade at the same rate as an oak leaf. What they don’t tell you is that oak leaves can take upwards of four years to breakdown.
December 24, 2011
December 24, 2011
January 24, 2012
Exposed to intense Florida sun and torrential rains, siting in the dirt next to a fern. Still retaining elasticity.
February 24, 2012
Getting a little sticky and dirty.
March 24, 2012
Not much change, getting a little stiff but still gummy.
April 24, 2012
No change since previous month. Showing no signs of degradation.
May 24, 2012
Intense Florida sun and extreme flooding rainstorms. Not much change, stiff, but pliable. Rim at top of red balloon starting to come loose. A fern has emerged between the two. The balloon industry claims releasing latex balloons is harmless and they biodegrade quickly. Not true
June 24, 2012
July 24, 2012
Not much change. Heavy, flood causing rain, blazing sun & heat. The top rim has come off of the red balloon. No other signs of degradation. Just more dirt stuck to them. Balloon release enthusiasts use one single study done decades ago, by a man in the balloon industry, to justify releasing balloons. They claim releasing "biodegradable" latex balloons (such as these) degrade at the same rate as an oak leaf. What they don't tell you is that oak leaves can take upwards of four years to break down. We had a sweet pineapple grow to maturity just feet away from where these balloons lay "degrading". How long does it take for latex balloons to break down? Longer than it takes for a pineapple to grow.
August 24, 2012
Not much change. Heavy, flood causing rain, blazing sun & heat. The top rim has come off of the red balloon. No other signs of degradation. Just more dirt stuck to them. Balloon release enthusiasts use one single study done decades ago, by a man in the balloon industry, to justify releasing balloons. They claim releasing "biodegradable" latex balloons (such as these) degrade at the same rate as an oak leaf. What they don't tell you is that oak leaves can take upwards of four years to break down. We had a sweet pineapple grow to maturity just feet away from where these balloons lay "degrading". How long does it take for latex balloons to break down? Longer than it takes for a pineapple to grow.
September 24, 2012
Latex balloons are NOT biodegradable. These two latex balloons with ribbon have endured Florida's extreme weather with little change, only fading in color as more dirt and plant mater stick to them. Click through the album to view their progress.
October 10, 2012
The so-called “biodegradable” balloons are not showing any progression since last month. Balloon enthusiasts boast, “latex balloons biodegrade at the same rate as an oak leaf.” What they don’t say is that an oak leaf can take years to biodegrade. These two have been undisturbed in natural conditions & extreme Florida weather, showing almost no signs of degradation. Aside from the top rim coming off the red balloon in Month 6, they are only getting dirty.
November 24, 2012
Latex balloons are falsely marketed as "biodegradable" and "environmentally friendly". These latex balloons floated in from the Atlantic & were set here in natural conditions 11 months ago, enduring harsh Florida weather with very little change and no signs of degradation. Balloon releasers repeat the erroneous claims of the balloon industry, refusing to acknowledge the truth. Natural latex may be “biodegradable”, but after adding chemicals, plasticizers and artificial dyes, how natural could it be? It may, in time, be “degradable”, but it’s surely not “biodegradable". Besides, tossing litter into the environment, whether biodegradable or not, is never environmentally friendly!
December 24, 2012
January 24, 2013
Balloon sellers attempt to "promote latex balloons as 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly". They state it takes as long as an oak leaf, or "up to 6 months". As you can see, their claims are false. Retrieved from the sea and tied to a fence post, these balloons have been enduring natural South Florida weather conditions for over a year. Deflated & dirty..but definitely still here.
February 24, 2013
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