For the past 20 years we’ve been cleaning our favorite undeveloped beaches on the SE coast of Florida of marine pollution that has washed ashore. We started finding the occasional balloon around 1999. Then, in 2005, we began seeing a massive increase in the amount of balloons we would find. We found there is a direct correlation to the popularity of Facebook and Twitter with the explosion of balloon pollution. With social media, one person can create a balloon release that goes global in minutes. Mass aerial littering events are going viral almost every day, worldwide.
These are just some of the balloons we have collected from our favorite beaches and other natural areas. We find many more latex balloons than Mylar, perhaps due to the balloon industry’s fierce campaign falsely marketing latex balloons as “biodegradable” and “environmentally friendly.” The balloon industry – the only industry that promotes and encourages the littering of their product.
Along with the increase in the mass amount of litter caused by released balloons, there is also a rise in the number of animals killed by balloons. Wild and domestic, marine and terrestrial, animals are mistaking balloons for food or becoming entangled in any attached string; causing a slow, agonizing death. All so simply avoidable.
Please let others know, Balloons Blow… Don’t Let Them Go!
Hi guys, I am really interested in this topic and I wanted to say thank you on behalf of humans, animals and the environment for the work you do. I wrote a blog post on this topic back in March before I came across your website. I was shocked by what I found out when I researched for the article. Keep spreading the word, you’re doing an amazing job 🙂