Hundreds, often thousands, of helium filled balloons are routinely released by schools and charities around the world; at corporate and sporting events; open days; weddings and many other special occasions.
- The effect can be colourful and stunning, raising money for a good cause and generating publicity.
- Keep Britain Tidy does not wish to be seen as anti-balloons or as a killjoy. We believe that balloons can be used in many ways to raise money and awareness of an issue, but that mass releases should not be one of these.
- After they have been released, a significant proportion of balloons fall back down to earth where they act as a source of litter, take a long time to break down and get mistaken by animals for food.
- Keep Britain Tidy believes that the best way in which to prevent problems caused by balloon releases is not to release them in the first place.
- Balloon releases are not specifically mentioned as littering in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. It would be a matter for the courts to decide as to whether they constituted an act of littering. To Keep Britain Tidy’s knowledge, this has not happened to date.