03 • 26 • 2022
Balloons and Lanterns Blow, Broward!
VICTORY: While Balloons were removed from the language, lanterns, confetti and other single use plastic items were included. This change to the administrative code strengthened the county's ability to regulate these items which are unnecessary sources of pollution and hazards to wildlife.
GOAL: The Broward County Chapter encourages the Broward County Commission to adopt an Administrative Code change to single use plastic, balloon and lantern release regulations. This code will help prevent further needless deaths of wildlife from this dangerous litter.
On February 8th and 22nd, the Broward County Commission is reading and hearing an administrative code change to single use plastics and to prohibit the release of all lanterns and balloons on county property.
The Broward Chapter, during its many beach cleanups, became concerned about the damaging impacts of plastics and increased balloon litter found across Broward County. They joined in with coalition partners in letter writing and comments to the County Commission.
Balloons filled with lighter-than-air gases like helium ascend, but also decend and unfortunately are having terrible impacts globally on wildlife. They do not biodegrade before potential ingestion by livestock and wildlife to include marine animals. In waterways, turtles and other animals often mistake them for jellyfish causing illness and death. The thin metal on mylar balloons additionally can cause outages and fire hazards when they get caught in power lines. In fact, in 2018, the Balloon Council, an organization of balloon retailers, distributers and manufacturers, actively and publicly advocated against the release of balloons to “protect our planet”.
Broward County is asked to help lead the way for the state along with St.Johns County to finally regulate these plastics and ban balloon and lantern releases. We are hopeful this will inspire an update to state legislation.
You can write the Commissioners by copy and pasting the following Email: https://www.broward.org/
Commissioner Jared Moskowitz
jemoskowitz@broward.org
Launa Carbonell, Aide
lcarbonell@broward.org
Email: Commissioner Torey Alston
talston@broward.org
or join the Chapter with testimony in person or virtually by registering here. The chapter the Commission to
and ask them to pass this important code change to protect marine and wildlife.
As the website says, “Balloons Blow”! Don't let them go!