Education

Balloons are a festive decoration for celebrations, but after the party is over where do they go? Used balloons end up in one of two places: nature or a landfill. When released, balloons can travel many miles before they deflate and fall to Earth, often entering the marine environment. Balloons act similarly to other plastics, taking years to break down, and can have a number of harmful impacts on the environment and marine wildlife.

Balloons sold in stores are made of either Mylar or latex. Mylar is an extremely strong plastic polyester film that can be inflated for long periods of time, whereas latex balloons are less durable yet still pose a similar threat in the marine environment. Latex balloons are commonly labeled as biodegradable, however, oftentimes added chemicals, plasticizers, and artificial dyes prevent their bacterial decomposition. A 2005 study by researcher Anthony Andrady of the Research Triangle Institute found that balloons exposed to sunlight in seawater decomposed slower than when they were exposed to sunlight in the air and after a full year still retained their flexibility. Mylar balloons are nearly impossible to recycle and do not biodegrade.

Both types of balloons pose a risk to marine life when they enter the ocean and the local watershed. Many marine wildlife mistake balloons as a source of food because the attractive bright colors or fragments resemble the look of a jellyfish or squid. The ingestion of balloons can block an animal’s digestive tract which can lead to starvation. Researchers have found pieces of balloons in the digestive tracts of dolphins, whales, birds, and sea turtles as well as terrestrial animals. Balloon strings can also cause marine life entanglement.

Balloons are one of the top three types of waste found in the Santa Barbara Channel. Channelkeeper frequently discovers balloons in our local creeks, beaches, and in the Santa Barbara Channel while out on our boat. During a three-hour statewide coastal cleanup event hosted by the California Coastal Commission in 2017, a total of 5,508 Mylar and latex balloons were collected along the California coast. 

Channelkeeper is deeply concerned with pollution in our waterways and works to curb it and raise awareness about the threat single-use plastics like balloons pose when they enter local waterways and the ocean. It is estimated that roughly eight million tons of plastic enter our world’s oceans each year, and balloons are a part of this statistic.

Mylar Mistake Project

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is honored to support Dori Larbig, a junior at San Marcos High School, who recently launched a website called MylarMistake for her Girl Scout Gold Award Community Service Project. Dori was inspired to start an educational project after seeing Mylar balloons in the Santa Barbara  Channel first-hand while on a kayaking trip at the Channel Islands with her Girl Scout Troop. Her website works to raise awareness about the damaging impacts of Mylar balloons on the marine environment and encourages the community to reduce the use of Mylar balloons by providing information about the problem and existing laws and offering tips and solutions. 

What Solutions Exist? Ocean Friendly Alternatives for Your Events and Parties

Unfortunately, cleanups alone cannot solve this issue. Currently, California law prohibits the release of Mylar balloons because these balloons are a fire hazard if they get caught in electricity lines. However, there is no legislation that bans latex balloon releases.

So what can you do? Take the pledge to be Mylar Free and spread the word to friends and family about the unintended impacts of balloons. Reduce and reuse. On an individual level there are many creative ways to celebrate. Consider decoration ideas like paper lanterns, streamers, banners, and flower arrangements or planting a tree or garden  as a festive, earth-friendly activity. 

Image source: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/take-deep-dive/threat-rank-report/

Fresh air and clean beaches are good for all of us. So why not do a beach clean-up!

Runoff from the land picks up trash and other pollutants and flows down storm drains  and straight to the Channel. Unlike sewage, this polluted runoff is not filtered and treated before it hits the ocean. The trash that gets transported to the ocean can be mistaken as food by wildlife or entangle animals. Help keep wildlife safe by picking up trash before it can cause harm.

Volunteer clean-up efforts play an important role keeping our beaches clean. While our local beaches may appear relatively clean due to routine beach grooming, microplastics are plentiful. These tiny plastic particles not only harm wildlife, they can be consumed by fish and enter the food chain, posing a threat to human health. So be on the lookout for tiny plastic bits!

Here are some helpful instructions on how to do a clean-up AND contribute to Channelkeeper’s ever-growing database of trash collected from local beaches—data that we use to help inform policy-making. Follow these simple instructions to get outside and make a difference in your community.

1. Gather supplies before you go. Coat up with sunscreen and grab a reusable bucket or bag, a durable pair of gloves, and your trusty water bottle and head outside.
2. Download our Clean-up Data Sheet. Print out our Data Card and bring it (and a pencil) along with you. We recommend filling out the data card as you go. Please also note that not every item you find on the beach will be on the data card. Some items of particular interest include cigarette filters, micro-pieces of foam and plastic, and balloons.
3. Beach Clean-up. Pick up any litter you see on the beach and stay safe while out. Do not pick up sharp items. If you feel unsafe picking up an item, please leave it where you found it. While it’s rare to find medical waste such as needles, these are occasionally found, and broken glass is prevalent. These should not be picked up by volunteers.
4. Get help for injured critters. If you see a dead or injured bird, please don’t pick it up. Notify Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network at 805.966.9005. If it’s a dead or sick marine mammal, please contact Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute at 805.567.1505 and leave a message with as much info as possible about the animal and its location.
5. Share the fun! Don’t forget to post your clean-up pics and results on social media using the hashtag #SBChannelkeeper and tagging us @SBChannelkeeper. We can’t wait to see your trash treasures and give you some well-deserved kudos for volunteering to protect the outdoor places we all love.

Enrichment:
Learn the facts about plastic pollution and checkout ten tips on how to reduce plastic with your family

What are the top trash items found by volunteers at beach clean-ups around the world? Guess and then find the answer the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up Report 2019.

Become a part of a thriving community interested in reducing waste from single-use plastic products and packaging and show your support for plastic reduction policies by signing this petition urging Congress to hold plastic producers accountable.