VICTORY! LONG BRANCH OFFICIALLY BANS INTENTIONAL BALLOON RELEASE!

Earlier this evening, at the Long Branch city council meeting, an ordinance to ban the intentional release of balloons was passed! After working with Mayor Pallone and the city council, we would like to thank Long Branch for listening to our guidance and taking action to reduce plastic pollution!

The intentional release of balloons is a senseless, easy practice to eliminate. Balloons may break up into smaller pieces over time, but with the addition of chemical plasticizers and artificial dyes, they never fully biodegrade. Although balloons are great at birthdays, weddings, graduations and more, once they get loose they can pose a serious threat to many animals. Birds, turtles and other animals commonly mistake balloons for food, which can harm or even kill them.

The intention behind these ordinances is to reduce waste, not ruin a birthday a party. Long Branch now joins a growing list of New Jersey towns who have passed similar ordinances. Would you like to see your town ban the intentional release of balloons? We’re here to support you! Email chair@jerseyshore.surfrider.org with any questions or for more information.

Cheers to Long Branch for moving forward!

Click here to show your support for a statewide ban on the intentional release of balloons in NJ!

Long Branch introduces Intentional Balloon Release Ban