Helium Balloon in the river The council is urging people not to carry out balloon releases

Council plea over harmful balloon releases

The release of sky lanterns and helium balloons

Northumberland County Council is appealing to the public to use other alternatives to balloon and lantern releases for events and memorials which can have a devastating impact on wildlife and the environment.  
 
While balloon or lantern releases can be carried out with good intent, they also have a long and devastating impact on the environment – and the council is strongly discouraging people from doing it. 
 
Once released, they very quickly drop back down to earth with their tattered ends and floating pieces being eaten by marine life, or other animals becoming tangled in the debris causing injury, illness and great suffering.  
 
Although biodegradable options are available, these still take months or even years to break down and can still cause horrendous painful deaths to animals.  
 
Meanwhile, lanterns set off in warmer months can travel long distances and have been known to cause a fire risk.   
 
The council is encouraging people to use other less damaging ways to pay tribute to a loved one such as planting a tree or flower bed, using jam jar lights, or organising a memorial walk for a chosen charity. 
 
Northumberland County Councillor John Riddle, Cabinet member for local services said: “While many are aware of the environmental impacts of balloons and lanterns, a few well-meaning people and organisations do still release them  - but as a council we strongly discourage this. 
 
“People assume the term biodegradable means harmless but this is simply not the case. No balloon is environmentally friendly.   
 
“We do appreciate this is a sensitive and emotional issue as balloon releases are often organised to mark the death of a loved one. However we also recognise the concerns of farmers, environmentalists, biologists and animal lovers, and their work to raise awareness of and tackle this problem.  
 
It is council policy to decline any requests from individuals and organisations who contact us wanting to have organised balloon or lantern releases from our parks and open spaces. 
 
“What we are asking is for people to use alternatives which not only create a lasting memory but do so without detriment to the local environment or wildlife.” 
 
More information on balloons and sky lanterns is available HERE 

The release of sky lanterns and helium balloons

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