Millions of people in England buy party balloons, whether they are latex ones or helium balloons. Neither are good, as even the ‘biodegradable ones’ take around six months to break down. If they get lost or are released into the sky, they burst into thousands of fragments, and fall to the land or sea, to harm mammals, birds, barnyard friends or marine creatures.
These handmade recycled paper decoration are a good alternative to balloons. Keep away from heat and moisture.
How Do Balloons Harm Innocent Creatures?
Because they don’t break down immediately, they burst and then fall from the sky. Some end up on farms (giving cattle belly ulcers). Recently, one horse died in Yorkshire, after becoming tangled up in balloon string.
As 70% of the world is water, it stands to reason that nearly all balloons that go up in the sky, fall into our oceans. When they are underwater, their shape and bright colours look to jellyfish. So often get eaten by endangered sea turtles (jellyfish are their favourite food).
Hundreds of thousands of dead marine creatures have washed ashore, with balloons inside their stomach. Just as they are choking hazards for children, they can’t get rid of them, so die.
But Shops Say Balloons Are Biodegradable?
Only the latex ones. And like a leaf, they take around six months to biodegrade. But while a rotting leaf in the corner of a garden does not harm, a released balloon does. Many councils are now banning balloon releases, due to the harm they cause to birds, mammals and marine wildlife.
Isn’t Banning Balloons Being a Party Pooper?
Only if you think a child’s few minutes of entertainment, is worth more than causing a painful slow death to a sea turtle, whale, cow or horse. There are many other ways to keep children entertained, without blowing up and releasing balloons.
And as said above, balloons are also choking hazards for children. If they get one stuck in their throat, it becomes difficult to perform CPR, as the balloon may expand. And most packs of balloons are sold in plastic.
Where To Recycle Unwanted Balloons?
For helium gas canisters, you’ll have to take these to household waste recycling. Before doing so, leave the valve open and pierce the cylinder bursting disc (depressed circle).
Some balloon makers say that you can cut up and compost balloons. But writers at The Conversation tried this, and it didn’t work. They ‘composted the balloons’ under proper conditions and found that four months later, they were more or less intact.
The only way at present to ‘get rid of balloons’ already bought, is to get your office or community together, and buy a Terracycle Party Supplies Box. This is around £100 to £300 (depending on size). But for that, your community gets to ‘get plastic party supplies’ out of your town forever’ so if done well, you would only need one ‘amnesty box’.
When full, you just use the pre-paid label to send the box off, and it’s recycled into other things. The boxes also accept:
- Plastic cutlery
- Party Hats & Glasses
- Costume Masks
- Non-electronic decorations
- Plastic flowers
- Plastic straws
- Plastic ribbons & bows
Campaign to Stop Balloon Releases
If you hear of a balloon release, write to your councillor and MP, and inform of the dangers of releasing balloons to all innocent creatures. Many cities and councils have already banned releases, so if so, then inform of any upcoming releases planned, for them to be stopped.
- Don’t attend balloon releases yourself. If asked why, just politely explain that balloon releases do huge harm to our native wildlife (and abroad, as a released balloon easily travels 200 miles before dropping to the ocean or ground).
- Don’t buy balloons. Not for you or anyone else. If everyone stopped buying balloons today, there would be no market, so no balloon releases.
- If you do use balloons (and are absolutely sure you are not going to stop), then at least only use them indoors, and always secure with natural raffia, so they don’t float away through open doors and windows. You can deflate them easily by using scissors at the bottom knot, then securely bin (ideally in a Terracycle box, see above).
Alternatives to Balloon Releases
We now live in such a consumerist society, that always the question of ‘what is the alternative?’ In fact, there doesn’t have to be one. Why does everything always have to be a noisy celebration? But if you need to ‘do something’ to mark a special event, there are plenty of alternatives.
To commemorate a loved one (human or animal), donate to Trees for Life. This organisation plants trees on your behalf, to rewild the Scottish Highlands, and this in turn helps to reduce climate change, and supports homes for native wildlife (including red squirrels).
Astronomers say ‘naming a star are someone’ is not really good. For a start, you can’t ‘own a star’ as it’s too far away to find. Also stars don’t ‘belong to anyone’.
Don’t Release Fire Lanterns Either
Fire lanterns are obviously fire hazards (one recently fell into the enclosure of a German zoo and killed all the animals). But they also have metal spikes inside, that harm creatures wherever they land. They also often get mistaken for coastal flares, putting the lives of lifeboat crew at risk, for false call-outs.
Kites are also dangerous to wildlife, as they can slice off wings in the sky, or have strings wrap and tangle. You can buy biodegradable ones from cornstarch, but it’s best not to use them. If you do, don’t fly kites at dusk or dawn (when birds are most likely in flight).
Recycled Paper Garlands from Scotland
East End Press makes gorgeous decorations printed on thick recycled paper and/or cotton waste with nontoxic inks. Made in India, these are designed to be used year after year, just hang up on the cotton thread. Packed in recycled paper sleeves.
Keep paper decorations away from heat and light. Keep string away from young children and pets.
Don’t use paper decorations in high-moisture areas (kitchens, bathrooms) as it will damage paper and cause ink to run. Use a gentle fluffy duster to clean, to avoid disturbing folds.
The Scottish designer had just returned from a trip to Mexico. Inspired by all the colourful art there, she decided to create inspiring designs, which can be used for garlands.
Handmade Recycled Paper Decorations
This handmade recycled paper decoration is ideal to display around the house or office for special days. The decorations include a cotton hanging thread and are packed in a cotton paper envelope.
Create a party atmosphere or brighten up a gloomy corner of the room, without using plastic (oil) or chopping down trees. Skilfully produced by artisans in India, this looks nice alone or grouped with other colours. Choose from:
- Small (green)
- Medium (lilac)
- Large (magenta)
Designed and brought to us by a small woman-owned company in Kent. These are reusable too. After hanging using the magnetic enclosure, fold away after use (away from sunlight, to protect colours).
Honeycomb Paper Decorations
These honeycomb decorations are made from paper. Sold in a choice of sizes and colours, they are hand-dyed to hang up with the supplied string. They can be used for years, then easily recycled. Sold flat-pack, they unfold into perfect round shapes.
Moonie Reusable Paper Balloons
Moonie Reusable Paper Balloons are in fun designs. Just fold down to use again. Plastic-free, just blow in the hole that forces the balloons to expand, inflate and form into its circular-shaped character. Then flatten to blown up again next time. Choose from:
- Whale
- Seal
- Penguin
- Red fish
- Panda
- Raccoon
- Beach Ball
