A symbolic gesture at weddings, graduations and even funerals could soon become an illegal act in Virginia.
Releasing balloons into the sky leads to litter in waterways and poses a threat to marine life. And while coastal areas are most affected by balloon trash, Virginia Beach needs the rest of the commonwealth’s support to curb it.
“When you release a balloon, you’re littering,” said Mark Swingle, chief of research and conservation for the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach. “They just don’t float away; they come down.”
Balloons are made of latex or foil, and they often have plastic ribbons, valves or clips attached to them. Studies have shown that balloons can travel long distances, even across state lines, before landing in the ocean, the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries. Sea turtles and other marine animals often mistake them for food and ingest them, which can be deadly.
“The big issue is trying to convince the rest of the state,” said Councilman Guy Tower, who is sponsoring the bill in Virginia Beach’s legislative package for the 2021 General Assembly. “They don’t realize that the balloons end up in our neck of the woods.”
Mass outdoor balloon releases are illegal in many states including Virginia, Connecticut and Florida. In Virginia, the law currently limits releases to 49 balloons per hour. The proposed legislation would prohibit any balloons from being intentionally released outdoors.
Zontini Link, who owns a flower and balloon store in Kempsville, initially said the proposed ban “cuts into people’s rights to have some type of peaceful demonstration.”
He wasn’t aware of the effects on the environment.
“If there (is) evidence to support that it’s doing some type of harm to our ecosystem, they should ban it,” he later said.
It won’t be the first time state legislators have heard of banning balloon releases. Former state Sen. Jeff McWaters, a Republican, introduced a bill at the General Assembly five years ago, but lobbyists for the balloon industry helped squash it, Swingle said.
Del. Nancy Guy, a Democrat who represents Virginia Beach’s 83rd District, introduced a similar balloon release ban last year. It languished in committees and ultimately failed, because of concerns that the fines were too high.
Conservationists are forging ahead in 2021 with stronger support, said Swingle.
The Virginia Conservation Network — a consortium of more than 130 members, including the aquarium — is pushing for a balloon release ban in its agenda. And the national lobby group that was working on behalf of the balloon industry five years ago has officially stated that balloons should not be released.
As of Monday afternoon, more than 6,400 people had signed a petition to ban intentional balloon releases in Virginia on the website change.org.
The proposed legislation coming from Virginia Beach would include a civil penalty of $25 per balloon released to be paid into the Nongame Wildlife Fund of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The bill would have exceptions for government agencies and releases for approved scientific and meteorological purposes.
Preventballoonlitter.org offers alternative ways to celebrate including dropping and popping non-helium balloons indoors, blowing bubbles or tossing beach balls to one another.
The public can comment on the balloon release bill and other draft legislative items at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
