Baloon Pollution

[christo2024]

Anyone noticed just how many daft balloons are floating around in The Estuary?

Almost every day we see one, sometimes bunches of them, usually with a long tape attached. All have daft logos on like Happy Birthday etc.

Isnt it time these things were banned?

Comments?

 

[MoodySabre]

They appear to have integral lifejackets............

 

[DanTribe]

We noticed many more adrift this year than previously. Most seem to be made of plastic rather than rubber, so presumably don't degrade as quickly.
They must pose a risk to wildlife surely?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Anyone noticed just how many daft balloons are floating around in The Estuary?

Almost every day we see one, sometimes bunches of them, usually with a long tape attached. All have daft logos on like Happy Birthday etc.

Isnt it time these things were banned?

Comments?

It was a standing joke in our boat for a long while, that we knew we were in the North Sea if we saw half a dozen ballons floating about..... been the case for years.

 

[Fire99]

Banning? We'll ban everything in this country.

Just make them out of something that's degradable. Problem pretty much resolved.

 

[nigelm]

I wonder where all those balloons I let go ended up

Now I know

 

[ex-Gladys]

Probably in the plastics pit in the middle of the Pacific....

 

[nigelm]

Probably in the plastics pit in the middle of the Pacific....

Blimey , they really get that far on that much gas ?, they should bottle it and do sumat useful with it

 

[ex-Gladys]

Of course, a little bit of research and I discover they probably finish up here....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Garbage_Patch

 

[Corribee Boy]

I was surprised to be told that helium is a fairly finite resource. I believe it's so rare in the atmosphere it's impossible retrieve it, and it actually comes from underground reserves in the US.

Even odder is that, due to a government decision, a finite amount is produced each year. Once the significant uses - medical, scientific and so on - are supplied, the rest (possibly an inferior grade) is 'dumped' on the market for these balloons.

So, once we've wasted it on balloons and funny voices, ther'll be none left for MRI scanners and other important things.

Now I really am depressed.

 

[tugger]

...So, once we've wasted it on MRI scanners and balloons, ther'll be none left for funny voices and other important things.

Now I really am depressed.

Sorry (edited for accuracy)