Maine's proposal to ban mass balloon releases took flight at a town meeting last month in Unity. In addition, many animals can become entangled in balloon strings, which can strangle them or hurt their feet and hands. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS, Balloons and Wildlife: Please Don't Release Your Balloons, 2023 - Weekly Highlights from the Asheville Field Office, Asheville, North Carolina, Winter 2023 Fish & Wildlife News: CITES Turns 50, Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. "In Maryland it's now illegal to be a plastic balloon litterbug and that's good news for our land, water, and wildlife," said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Englebright, chairman of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, told The Post he opted against including penalties because he wanted to use a gentle approach at the outset.. 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To get mindless tasks done with cookie-cutter uniformity, we build machines. He said that they find balloons in waters from five to 60 miles offshore some days, and that one of the farthest balloons they found appeared to have traveled all the way from a car wash in Arizona. (It doesn't apply to balloons released for scientific or meteorological purposes . Privacy Policy Balloons pollute the Earth, kill animals, waste Helium and cause power outages, BALLOONS KILL WILDLIFE, POLLUTE THE EARTH AND WASTE HELIUM. Lam said that balloon waste from releases could end up in farms, waterways and other spaces where it could harm the environment. After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. "Balloons have long polluted shorelines of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, adding to the plastic pollution that threatens both marine life and the roughly 225,000 jobs in the three states that depend on a clean coast," saidOceana field campaigns managerCaroline Wood in a statement. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He said legislators should focus on more important issues including gun violence and police reform. Blume said that balloons are found on the beaches a lot, and even though latex balloons break down over time, most have an attached string with a knot attached. Disclaimer: The information on this system is unverified. Releasing balloons is littering. The Maryland legislature just passed SB716/HB391, which prohibits any person 13 or older or any group from intentionally releasing a balloon into the atmosphere, and bans any mass balloon release of 10 or more balloons, and requires violations to be reported. Here is a link to information about the legality of sky lanterns in California. If you think about it, fireworks are the same. 7 ($250) for a second or subsequent offense. Lam said he hopes that this bill does two things: reduces the amount of waste that ends up in the environment, and raises awareness of the need to properly dispose of balloons. 7 Is it bad to let balloons go in the sky? Educational presentations for school & community groups, Purchase trees & plants to plant for groups/classes who ". The new law applies to anyone 16 or older who intentionally releases. While Carney has dedicated much of his tenure to a litter-reduction campaign, the bill isn't just to prevent residents from suffering through the sight of scattered festivelatex balloon remnants across the state. The penalty is even more severe for companies (like funeral homes), which could face fines of up to $82,610 for balloon releasings. And if we all drove carefully, there would be no need for seat belts and/or airbags! Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Releasing helium balloons skyward is now banned in Victoria, and the unlawful act can carry a hefty fine of up to $82,610. BLUEFIELD, Va. It is now illegal in Virginia to release non biodegradable balloons outdoors, and a local leader wants to see the same restrictions in West Virginia. Following his . No one really actually follows the law the way they are supposed to, she said. Some of the following pictures are hard to look at, but they make clearer than any words why we all shouldfind alternativesto letting a balloon go. Yes Candace, these things should be illegal for all occasions. Several family members were injured when the driver of their car veered off a road to avoid hitting what turned out to be a sky lantern. (2) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to . There is also an osprey project in New Jersey where the parents will make their nests with some balloon waste, and the string from the balloons will cause their babies to get tangled in it," Blume said. In the event that any balloons are released pursuant to the exemption established in this paragraph, the party responsible for the release shall make available to any law enforcement officer evidence of the biodegradability or photodegradability of said balloons in the form of a certificate executed by the manufacturer. You better re-read the article, you Live in Fantasy Land! Mass balloon releases are illegal in several states, cities, and countries. Maryland state lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that prohibits people from releasing balloons. Andrew Cuomo and is considered a bellwether on controversial issues. Scott Tiffin, Lam's chief of staff, said that the issue of balloon releases specifically was put on Lam's radar by the Queen Anne's County law. After they are launched, they are completely out of controlandcan rise to 3,000 feet, later landing on the ground, in trees, or on structures. I was wondering the same thing. Balloon-lovers can still release balloons indoors and won't be penalized if they accidentally release one into the sky, according to the bill. families, releasing balloons is a way to mourn the death of loved ones. Please enter valid email address to continue. Cities of Ocean City, Maryland; Louisville; Huntsville, Ala.; San Francisco; and Baltimore. Our biodegradable balloons are made from natural latex; A pack of ten sky blue biodegradable balloons made from high quality, natural latex. Not only does it make them harder to spot, but if they're in the water they can look like jellyfish which turtles mistake for food, Blume said. Massive balloon releases are illegal in several states, cities and countries. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Stores like Party City and local Maryland event planning businesses sell and use balloons in their businesses and don't advocate for balloon releases. Is it illegal to let balloons go in the sky? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Biaggi said her bill has not received any opposition, which is a good sign that both legislative members and constituents are open to making this change in favor of protecting our planet.. Sara Parent, owner of Southern Maryland Balloons & Events, said that her company does not organize balloon releases and has concerns with enforcement of the law and how officials would be able to identify these releases, unless it's a massive one. We've received your submission. "The goal of the bill is not to fine children for letting go of their balloon. Virginia allows up to 50 released balloons. "I don't do balloon releases; foils and other balloons should never be released, they could cause issues with power lines," Parent said. Our dedicated team is always here for you. Mass release of balloons is illegal in several states and cities, including Virginia. Because Helium is lighter than air, but it is not the only gas we can fill the balloon, we may use hydrogen gas as well. 1 Is it illegal to release biodegradable balloons? Decorate the venue with hanging paper lanterns or pom poms, Encourage attendees to write in a memory book. As of July 1, anyone . Three senators are co-sponsoring the bill, including Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, R-Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester, Sen. Ronald Young, D-Frederick, and Sen. Stephen Hershey, R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's, Lam said. organizing the release of, or intentionally causing the release of 10 or more helium or other lighter-than air gas balloons into the air over a 24-hour period. It appears that an attempt to enact Balloon release laws was defeated in 1994. The penalty can be as low as $250 and as high as $1,000. This act would prohibit the intentional simultaneous release of ten (10) or more balloons, 2 inflated with lighter-than-air gas. I find your logic to be lacking about Sky Lanterns. A violation is an infraction, subject to a According to the bill, the Department of the Environment is required to enforce. There are four other states that also have laws against balloon releases. Luke Blume of Berlin, Maryland whose children, Josh and Emily Blume, started a balloon clean up contest called Blume's Balloon Round Up is in support of the Queen Anne's County law and potential state-wide ban of balloon releases. Rep. Mitzi . House Bill 59 makes it illegal to release sky lanterns within 500 yards of a public gathering. David Ige, people who intentionally release helium balloons face a $500 fine.. H.B. Neighboring states Virginia and Tennessee have bans on these releases as well as cities such as Huntsville, Alabama and Louisville, Kentucky. That is because marine mammals, sea birds and turtles commonly mistake floating balloons for food like jellyfish or squid. Failure to provide said evidence shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this act. CALIFORNIA FOIL BALLOON LAW PENAL CODE SECTION 653.1 (a) No person shall sell or distribute any balloon that is constructed of electrically conductive material, and filled with a gas lighter than air without; Latex balloons are 100 completely compostable as long as they are made with 100-percent latex. Irregardless of how big the impact is, in the State of Tennessee, it is illegal to do a balloon release of more than 25 balloons at a time. Releasing them is trashy. A man should know his limitations.. Mass release of balloons is illegal in several states and cities, including Virginia. Effective Thursday, it will be illegal to intentionally release a balloon outdoors. A pack of 100 sapphire blue biodegradable balloons made from high quality, natural latex. If a person is caught releasing a balloon, they could be fined as much as $16,522. On July 1, 2013 a sky lantern landed in a recycling facility in the West Midlands of England starting a fire causing an estimated six million British pounds of damage. "I don't advocate releasing balloons into the environment like that but if they're going to do it, no matter what, it should be with latex and no ribbon because at least it would be biodegradable.". They kill countless animals and cause dangerous power outages.