Time to cut those strings, Florida! The Sunshine State will prohibit balloon releases as of July 1, 2024. This spring, a new law went into effect in California declaring the intentional release of balloons outdoors to be littering and punishable by fines of as much as $150 per offense. This decisive action confirms increasing public awareness for wildlife welfare and the impact of ungainly balloons.
Florida had already banned the release of 10 or more balloons within a 24-hour period. The bill takes on single balloon releases, a slightly different model from laws that ban all balloons. There are overlay rules to this, obviously. The balloons of government agencies, “dissemination of information required by environmental researchers” and children aged 7 or under are exempt.
Starting July 1, sending a balloon up into the sky in Florida will be considered a noncriminal littering offense, and could get you fined up to $150. PIC.TWITTER.COM/YKH2IDWFXE
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) JUNE 27, 2024
Deflation of balloons is common and debris from leftover balloons can cause damage to the environment. As the Ocean Conservancy pointed out, helium-filled balloons are able to travel great distances and often land in our oceans. Wildlife, thinking that these balloons are food (because we all know how tasty they look), can actually eat them and choke to death on the weird floating orb! ‘For our marine life, these balloons are silent killers,’ notes a spokesperson for the Ocean Conservancy. “Animals are designed to want brightly colored, buoyant food but that same color and flotation is death when swallowed.
Leading efforts to get this legislation through is Representative Linda Chaney, which has picked up quite a bit of backing from various environmental organizations. Together, their efforts emphasize the importance of protecting Florida wildlife and preventing litter. “Securing our planet will take a remarkable effort,” Chaney says “Through reducing the incidence of balloon releases, we are directly mitigating harm to our wildlife. ”
This is a fight not being waged by Florida alone. Several states, including Arizona, California and Maryland have already passed measures banning or restricting the sale of balloons in response to problematic balloon litter; Florida simply followed suit. In California, for instance, balloon releases are discouraged through fines and public awareness campaigns to illustrate the balloons’ environmental impact.
Florida is taking a big step towards the conservation of animals and their natural environment with its new law. It shows that people are becoming more conscious of balloon litter and wanting to do something about it. Floridians are encouraged to help enforce these regulations, so we may all enjoy a less contaminated environment. As Chaney says: “It’s a small change that can make a big difference for the people of Florida.
So how do you commemorate special occasions if not items? Biodegradable balloons? Although they may seem like a good option, this balloons still rake quite long to decompose and can kill wildlife. Instead, plant a tree, make an environmental donation or go with bubbles and pin-wheels. Why don’t you seek innovative ways to celebrate, which rather than create a massive environmental footprint will leave only your thoughts and change behind.
