Jules she/her4d ago

Is it time to ban balloon releases, or indeed balloons altogether?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/02/the-dark-side-of-the-balloon-boom-is-it-time-they-were-banned

I'd say yes, not just for the rubbish they scatter over the countryside but also because as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has recently hopefully demonstrated, helium is a finite resource with important medical and scientific applications

The dark side of the balloon boom – is it time they were banned?

From balloon arches at parties to mass balloon releases at funerals, these bits of floating rubber and plastic can have disastrous effects on wildlife. As some retailers are refusing to sell them, here are some alternatives

The Guardian
Show threadHiker Geek 🌲💻🌲

@afewbugs

Latex balloons don't hold helium very well. Mylar works better. Latex breaks down outside quickly. Mylar takes HUNDREDS of years.

Two weeks ago big gold 1 and 0 Mylar balloons got stuck in the tree right out my window. They have been torn open by winds and are deflated but they will be out there probably forever. Maybe their string will rot and let them fall out of the tree.

I hike in NE USA regularly and the tops of trees are littered with old Mylar balloons.

Apr 4 at 2:01pmWeb