What goes up, must come down: a ban on helium balloons

As Queensland prepares to introduce a ban on the release of helium balloons, Boomerang Alliance Campaign Manager Toby Hutcheon is advocating for a national approach.

At present, states within Australia have differing laws on the release of helium balloons.

All states recognise balloon releases as an act of littering; however, it is not policed, and the activity continues. Three jurisdictions are planning to take further action and actually ban the practice. Western Australia did so last year, Queensland hopes to implement a ban by September 2023 and the Northern Territory has listed a ban on releases before 2025.

New South Wales has stopped short of a blanket ban, instead, its ban only applies to the release of 20 or more balloons at the same time. Any release of under 20 balloons is not considered unlawful.

Some councils, such as Noosa and Sunshine Coast have taken it upon themselves to put balloon release bans into place.

The Boomerang Alliance, a member of the government stakeholder group on plastics, has been involved in the formulation of Queensland's proposed balloon ban. Toby Hutcheon, Campaign Manager at Boomerang Alliance says the bill is expected to go to a parliamentary committee for review later this year.

"The ban is essential given the threats that burst balloons have on wildlife, particularly marine and sea birds," Toby says.

"Releasing balloons is considered littering in all states but is poorly policed with many unaware of the consequences, or that it is an offense. As a result, mass releases have continued despite the littering offense."

Toby says that a specific ban will make people more aware of the regulation.

Littering, however, is not the only problems that arises as a result of balloon releases. A Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) study found that balloons are among the top three most harmful pollutants threatening marine wildlife and are the biggest plastic killer of seabirds.

Research by Dr Jenn Lavers, from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, also suggests similar findings. Jenn says she has found balloons in about one in 20 sea birds she examines.

The Boomerang Alliance is not alone in its bid to encourage people to stop releasing balloons into the environment.

In Queensland the Labor Party, Liberal National Party and the Greens do not allow balloon releases at any of their sponsored events.

Most councils and the Local Government Association of Queensland have been advocating for a ban for several years.

National conservation group Clean Up Australia (CUA) is also an advocate of avoiding balloons.

On its website, CUA states that an Australian study in August 2020 showed that after 16 weeks in freshwater, saltwater and industrial compost conditions, latex balloons did not degrade.

It also pointed to another Australian research paper highlighting that balloons and other soft plastic waste in oceans are 32 times more likely to kill seabirds than hard plastic waste.

CUA is an advocate for finding environmentally friendly alternatives to otherwise harmful plastics.

It has numerous suggestions on how to avoid using balloons including using bubbles, paper pom poms, colorful flags, banners, pin wheels, streamers, or kites for special occasions.

Toby says it's not about taking the fun out of events.

"We acknowledge that balloon releases are used at celebrations and commemorations, we just ask that those considering releasing balloons find alternative ways to commemorate that do not cause harm to wildlife and the environment."

Toby says a specific ban on the release of helium balloons will make providers and their customers aware that it is illegal and damaging. He says it's an opportunity for all providers and suppliers to ensure that balloons are discarded in a way that does not create litter.

Boomerang Alliance has suggested that helium balloons (recreational purposes) only be sold by members of the pro Balloon Industry alliance.

For more information, visit: www.boomerangalliance.org.au

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