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Wildlife Hero: Seller Refuses Balloon Orders
24 Feb
Summary
- A seller refuses to sell balloons for releases due to environmental harm.
- Numerous UK councils have banned balloon releases, impacting wildlife.
- Degradable balloons still pose risks to animals and the environment.
A balloon seller in Lincoln, Naomi Spittles, has taken a stand against environmental harm by refusing to sell balloons for release events. Spittles, who has been in the trade for eight years, recently declined an order for 200 balloons intended for a memorial, citing the dangers and pollution caused by balloon releases.
Her refusal highlights a growing concern over the environmental impact of balloon releases. Industry representative NABAS states they do not support releases, acknowledging them as unwanted and potentially dangerous litter on land and at sea. This aligns with findings from the Marine Conservation Society, which reports that 44% of its beach cleans in 2024 included balloon litter. Historically, this figure reached 69% in 2018.
More than 100 local authorities in the UK have banned balloon releases. East Riding Coastal Services reported finding multiple balloons, some entangled with deceased animals, including a puffin. Experts from the RSPCA emphasize that balloon fragments can be mistaken for food, causing blockages and slow death in wildlife, while attached strings can lead to strangulation. Even "degradable" balloons are deemed unsafe due to their slow breakdown time.
Lincolnshire County Council banned balloon and lantern releases on its land and adopted highways in 2020, excluding air-filled latex balloons and private land releases. East Riding of Yorkshire Council strongly advises against releases, though no formal ban is in place.
