Ban Helium Balloons 🎈

Five years ago, probably the biggest form of wind blown litter you would find in the woods was plastic shopping bags. They blow off garbage dumps, out car windows, trash cans and even back porches. They were banned in New York State and they became much less or a problem.

But now more and more I’m finding helium balloons in the woods. I get that helium balloons are fun for parties and telling sick people to get well but too many of them accidentally escape then float out in the woods. The metalized plastic might not be the biggest hazard in the world but it still will kill birds and wildlife that eat it, gets trapped in trees and will last forever, at least until the forest is burned over or somebody removes it.

To boot, helium is increasingly short supply due to decades of the government under pricing it to ensure wide availability for medical, research and scientific applications. Helium Balloons are a complete waste of this limited resource and they are killing wildlife to boot.