Balloons ban gets backing
COUNCIL SUPPORTS ENVRIONMENTAL PLEDGE
Council leaders are supporting a campaign to ban balloon releases due to the environmental pollution they cause.
Durham County Council is among 32 local authorities in England which have signed up to ban the releasing of balloons, which are often seen as a mark of respect for people who have died.
Now, the Marine Conservation Society is calling on members of the public to encourage other local authorities to follow suit.
The society’s Don’t Let Go campaign is also urging people to ban the release of sky lanterns.
Balloon releases have become very popular, many times for people wanting to show their respects to those who have lost their lives and others for fun at events to see how far they can go.
Thousands of balloons have been released across the region, including at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and at Blackhall Primary School in memory of six-year-old Bradley Lowery, who lost his fight with neuroblastoma.
However, environmental campaigners say dolphins, whales, sharks, seabirds and turtles have all been killed by balloons and balloon strings through entanglement or ingestion.
SteveBhowmick,Durham County Council’s environment and design manager, said: “In 2008 we signed a regional pledge to stop balloon releases on local authority land.
“Unfortunately, since then we’ve seen a huge increase in the use of non-degradable foil balloons and strings and their impact on marine life, as well as general and shore litter.
“With this in mind, we feel that a regional refresh would be beneficial, and we’re pleased to say that this is being taken forward through the North East Nature Partnership.”
Emma Cunningham, pollution campaigns officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “There’s an awful lot of confusion over balloons, especially what they’re made of and how they break down. Some people believe that because latex is natural, balloons made of it are harmless once let go.
“This just isn’t the case. Latex may last for up to four years in the marine environment.
“Ultimately we’d like to see balloons and lanterns classed as litter under the relevant legislation.”
The society wants others to pledge their support by visiting www.mcsuk.org/campaigns/dont-let-go.