Keep Balloon Litter Out of Our Oceans Sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy
March 26, 2024
Every year, turtles, birds and other ocean animals suffer, and even die, from eating or becoming entangled in balloon litter. Balloons are the deadliest type of plastic that seabirds ingest, and they are 32 times more likely to kill seabirds compared to hard plastics. One study found that of the pieces of rubber eaten by sea turtles, 78% of those pieces were balloon fragments.
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. While a few states across the country have passed statewide or municipal bills to ban or limit balloon releases, it’s time for the rest of the United States to catch up.
How can you help?
Let your voice be heard by your elected officials by looking up your representatives, and calling on them to enact statewide balloon-release ban legislation.