Bye Bye Balloon Litter

This blog post was written by Ariane Lemaire, a 2026 Marine Plastics Ambassador.

Balloons mark important moments, but years of greenwashing and cultural disconnect have left released balloons “out of sight, out of mind.” Despite common belief, balloons don’t biodegrade, but in nature they do spark wildfires, cause power outages, injure animals, and shed microplastics and chemicals. In North Carolina, balloons travel through air and water across hundreds or thousands of miles and enter our ocean. This led to the recent death of a whale calf in a barrier island town. Propelled by the tragedy, coastal communities passed municipal balloon release bans, followed by the introduction of state bills that failed to pass. To bring fresh momentum to the cause, I committed to build public support for a statewide balloon release ban, raise awareness for eco-friendly alternatives, and promote solutions with education and advocacy opportunities. 

Ariane presented virtually and at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Photo Credit: Ariane Lemaire). 

NC Youth for Clear Skies and Seas

I launched “NC Youth for Clear Skies and Seas,” a website and hub for people to discover how to take action against balloon pollution. The website houses a petition, coalition sign-on-letter for organizations, and citizen science balloon litter reporting form. After thorough research, I authored downloadable resources including a policy brief, sample letter to elected officials, advocacy fact sheet, coloring activities, and guide for farmers. To amplify understanding beyond my region, I partnered with nationwide balloon litter prevention nonprofit Balloon Mission to co-create and distribute educational materials. I also collaborated with another nonprofit leader to design a GIS map of local-level balloon release bans to demonstrate the success of existing laws. My efforts gained the attention of WRAL News, the largest news platform in the state, and I published an article with my NC Wildlife Federation chapter. Over 20 organizations from North Carolina and around the world signed the coalition letter and shared stories of balloon litter. They proved invaluable in reaching community members from all backgrounds, careers, and lifestyles.

Balloon litter found in North Carolina; Ariane’s WRAL News interview (Photo Credit: Ariane Lemaire).

Campaign Impact

  • 900+ petition signatures
  • 1,670 website views
  • 50,000+ social media views 
  • 4 million WRAL News viewers
  • 135 event participants
  • 115 lbs of trash collected
  • 40 countries reached
  • 23 organization partnerships
  • 8 educational materials created
  • Meetings with 4 national and 3 state lawmakers
  • Organized 3 virtual advocacy workshops and in-person NC Hill Day
  • Covered by 3 radio stations and NC Wildlife Federation chapter

Finding Common Ground Moves Change Forward

High campaign visibility inspired nuanced conversations across sectors. Twenty six percent of North Carolina is farmland, and agriculture is a revered contributor to economic vitality and culture. Many NC farmers overlooked in previous discussions reported balloons regularly falling on their pastures, endangering livestock and threatening machinery. Suburban residents felt similarly called to the issue: everyone can get behind reducing chances of power outages and fires from balloons hitting energy lines. I gained confidence speaking with policymakers in Washington, D.C. and returned to North Carolina to voice my concerns with state legislators. With negative effects of balloon releases on marine mammals well documented, legislators were interested in learning more about harms to farmer livelihoods, a key part of their constituent base. I encourage budding advocates to listen openly and explore new perspectives - you may find unexpected friends dealing with the same problem!

Unifying neighbors around balloon litter grew my faith in the civic process. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet my elected officials and participate in democracy. Policy work can be contentious and divided, and focusing on this uniquely mobile form of plastic pollution illuminated common desires for clean streets, parks, and oceans. While community collaborations shine as a highlight of the project, individuals sometimes spread misinformation or get involved for fame and ego rather than the collective good. Instead of focusing on the few obstacles, I feel optimistic about my achievements and what is possible!

Ariane at the United States Capitol and North Carolina General Assembly (Photo Credit: EarthEcho International (left) and Ariane Lemaire (right)).

Looking Ahead

To eliminate balloon litter and advance balloon release ban legislation next year, I am installing balloon recycling bins across the state, designing new outreach resources, and compiling data from the balloon litter reporting form. Littered balloons have been found from the Great Smoky Mountains all the way to the Outer Banks, and there are endless opportunities to compassionately share balloon release alternatives and expand recycling infrastructure. I hope to organize grassroots campaigns and future Hill Days with Surfrider Foundation chapters to bring North Carolinians and decision-makers together for the betterment of our safety, environment, and economy. 

Stay tuned and join the movement at clearskiesandseas.com and @clearskiesandseas on Instagram!

Learn more about the EarthEcho Marine Plastics Ambassadors at https://www.earthecho.org/plastics-ambassadors.