Monday, January 28, 2019

With Valentine's day coming up, Americans across the country are gearing up to get gifts for their sweeties. However, the popular gift choice of balloons can have a negative environmental impact.

"Millions of balloons are sold on Valentine's Day, so this is the perfect time to raise awareness about the best ways to handle and dispose of balloons properly," says Lorna O'Hara, executive director of The Balloon Council (TBC), a non-profit organization made up of responsible retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that are dedicated to educating others about the wonders of balloons and the proper handling of them.

Whether you are giving the balloons or receiving them, be sure to keep these tips from TBC's national Smart Balloon Practices Campaign in mind:

- Do not release any balloons into the air – they can become tangled in power lines and turn into litter.
- Keep balloons secured with a string and tied to a weight.
- Children with balloons should always be monitored. Children under eight (8) years of age can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
- When finished with balloons, pop them and properly dispose of them.
- Despite the funny voice helium can give you, it should never be inhaled.

"Even though red is the primary color for Valentine's Day we hope people will think 'green' when using balloons to celebrate," says O'Hara.  "Balloons are recyclable and biodegradable, but we all need to do our part and be mindful of these smart practices to ensure that balloons are a part of our celebrations for years to come. Just follow our motto: Don't let go: Inflate. Weight. Enjoy."

Source:  The Balloon Council

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