Up, up and away?
Last updated: 5 December 2006.
This is the text of a leaflet about balloon releases produced several years ago by the Marine Conservation Society, RSPCA, Tidy Britain Group, and the National Farmers Union, and reprinted here with kind permission.
Thousands of balloons released into the sky can make an impressive sight. But what goes up must come down. The impact of balloons on animals and the environment can be grave - even fatal. Balloon releases often take place at charitable events and are being considered for millennium celebrations, but the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), RSPCA, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Tidy Britain Group (TBG) are calling on all organisations to support a voluntary ban on them and to celebrate events in more environment and animal-friendly ways.
Threat to the environment
Balloon releases cause litter which can harm wild, farm and domestic animals. An estimated 90-95 per cent of balloons rise to an altitude of three kilometres and burst into small fragments. Others may float many miles before descending to the ground or sea semi-inflated. The largest-ever balloon release was 1.4 million balloons - of those, 140,000 could have fallen to the land and sea.Research states that latex balloons degrade faster than oak leaves and this is often used in defence of mass balloon releases. This is no recommendation however as an oak leaf can take six months to break down. Most of the balloons used in releases are made of degradable latex but some have foil linings which take much longer to degrade.
Even small-scale releases and balloon races may have a serious effect on the environment and animals - the balloons are often not adequately inflated and the attached strings or ribbons may entangle animals. Weighted race tags increase the likelihood of balloons landing in the countryside or at sea.
Threat to wildlife
Many marine species found in the North East Atlantic waters off the UK - dolphins, whales, turtles, fish and seabirds - have been found with balloons in their stomachs. They probably mistook them for natural prey such as jellyfish and squid.Although it is difficult to prove that death results directly from ingestion of a balloon, their presence in animals' stomachs indicates either that they are not easily digested and/or that death occurs shortly after ingestion. This can be caused by blockage of the digestive and/or respiratory tracts, and is likely to be slow and painful.
Balloon releases in the UK
Following the findings of a 1989 conference in Canada on plastic and other debris found at sea, public concern has led to cancellations of mass releases in Canada and North America. The MCS, the RSPCA, NFU and the TBG are concerned that this message has not reached UK event organisers. The MCS/Reader's Digest annual Beachwatch survey records hundreds of balloons found on UK beaches, averaging more than three balloons per kilometre of beach surveyed.No cause for celebration
Given the harm balloons cause wildlife and domestic animals, and the aesthetic damage to the environment, the MCS, RSPCA, NFU and TBG believe there should be no balloon releases in the UK. It is also questionable whether balloon releases are legal. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence to drop 'or otherwise deposit' litter in a public place. It would be fortunate if celebration of and support for one good cause were to be responsible for the blight of another.What you can do
- Contact one of the organisations below if you know of any planned balloon releases. We will contact event organisers to explain the likely consequences, and ask them to reconsider.
- If you are planning a balloon event, consider the alternatives. You could use the balloons to build balloon statues - numbers could be sold and the winning ticket chosen by randomly bursting a balloon. Use latex rather than mylar or foil balloons.
- To express your concern about the environmental impacts of balloon releases, write to the National Association of Balloon Artists and Suppliers (NABAS), Katepwa House, Ashfield Park Avenue, Ross-On-Wye, HR9 5AX Tel: 01989 567678.
- If you find a balloon displaying a company or Organisation name, send it back to them with a copy of this factsheet urging them to think of an alternative way of celebrating their next event.
Marine Conservation Society
9 Gloucester Road
Ross-on-Wye
Herefordshire
HR9 5BU
Tel: 01989 566017
RSPCA Wildlife Department
Causeway
Horsham
West Sussex
RHI2 IHG
Tel: 01403 264181
Tidy Britain Group
Communications Department
The Pier
Wigan
WN3 4EX
Tel: 01942 924620
National Farmers Union
164 Shaftsbury Avenue
Agriculture House
London
WC2H 8HL
Tel: 0207 3317200
