Beginning July 1st in Florida, it will be illegal to release balloons into the sky. Often associated with celebrations and memorials, the release of balloons has been identified as a significant environmental hazard to wildlife.
Turtles, birds, and other wildlife frequently mistake deflated balloons and their strings for food, leading to ingestion, entanglement, suffering, and even death.
According to the Ocean Conservancy, ”In nearly 40 years, Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup® volunteers from around the globe have picked up more than 1.8 million balloons littered across coastlines and waterways.”
This is an important step in reducing plastic pollution and protecting vulnerable wildlife in Florida’s extensive coastal and inland ecosystems.
States where it is illegal to release balloons
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia.
