9,000+ balloons were found on beaches nationwide 2016-2022.
Balloon Releases
When balloons enter our environment, they pose an indefinite threat to wildlife and human health. Most balloons never degrade and contain harmful additives.¹
Many animals mistakenly ingest littered balloons, especially sea turtles, farm livestock, and seabirds.² Seabirds are 32 times more likely to die swallowing balloons than hard plastic waste.³
The microplastic crisis has never been greater – every balloon released into the sky will return to earth as a source of pollution that poisons our waterways.

Balloon Release Bans
Balloon release bans are an easy way to keep unnecessary trash out of our parks, rivers, and oceans. Under a ban, balloons are available to purchase, just prevented from being released into the environment intentionally.
- Currituck and Dare Counties already have balloon release bans.⁴
- Balloon bans are bipartisan-supported and escalating into a nationwide movement.⁵
Let’s make North Carolina the next state to pass bill into law!
Laws in effect
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Maine
Maryland
Nevada
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Virginia
Proposed bills
Arizona
Illinois
Kentucky
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Washington
Wisconsin
Sources
- Lavers, J., & Gilmour, M. (2020, August 17). We composted “biodegradable” balloons. Here’s what we found after 16 weeks. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/we-composted-biodegradable-balloons-heres-what-we-found-after-16-weeks-138731
- Trapani, C., Register K., O’Hara, K., Huntington, Z. (2025). Littered Balloons in Virginia’s Coastal Environment: 2014 to 2024 monitoring results, Fisherman Island, Virginia. Clean Virginia Waterways, Virginia Beach, VA.
- University of Tasmania. “Balloons the number 1 marine debris risk of mortality for seabirds.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 March 2019. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190301084847.htm.
- Thomas, W. (2025, January 29). Currituck County passes balloon release ban, statewide bill introduced in general assembly. News 3 WTKR Norfolk. https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/outer-banks/currituck-county-passes-balloon-release-ban-statewide-bill-introduced-in-general-assembly
- Legislation. (2025, September 1). Balloon Mission. https://balloonmission.org/legislation/