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Original poster

Balloon police!!!

92 replies

EnergyJaguar · 26/06/2023 09:05

I don’t want to be the person that sucks the joy out of parties etc! But it’s just to say please please be mindful of your balloon usage.

Im not saying the odd balloon or two for parties but these huge balloon arches are a nightmare and even latex takes ages to biodegrade.

https://greenecofriend.co.uk/eco-friendly-alternatives-to-balloons/

Balloon police!!!
OP posts:
usedtobeasizeten · 26/06/2023 10:12

🙈hideous

daffodilandtulip · 26/06/2023 10:13

The balloon releases should be banned. I know someone who releases multiple balloons every birthday, death date, Father's Day etc for a good 15 years now. What does it achieve?! 🤯

Original poster
EnergyJaguar · 26/06/2023 10:16

Not just balloon releases, but the new trend of arches, basically excessive balloon use.

I don’t want to be Balloon Police like I said, but my kids enjoy painting banners etc.

It’s not a criticism of the person’s work I’ve shown in the example it just came up on my Instagram and I thought what a waste of resources.

OP posts:
Original poster
EnergyJaguar · 26/06/2023 10:16

I say new trend it’s not entirely new.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 26/06/2023 10:18

That’s horrible (missing point …)

Anyway, completely agree OP.

bussteward · 26/06/2023 10:22

Phos · 26/06/2023 10:01

Agree. A friend of a friend did a massive balloon release on Fathers Day because she doesn't want her daughters to forget their dad, who died in the last year. When I told my friend (not the bereaved) I thought it was an awful thing to do and there were other ways I was told I had no compassion and it was lovely. Some people won't be told.

And how does it help them remember him? Unless he was a balloon animal artist or hot air ballooner?

SunnyEgg · 26/06/2023 10:24

Yanbu and that image is not nice anyway

FlippersDippers · 26/06/2023 10:24

I completely agree. Damaging to the environment and more rubbish for landfill.
They only appeal to the yawnsome ‘look at me’ brigade.

pontipinemum · 26/06/2023 10:28

ThreadExterminator · 26/06/2023 09:49

I agree. We have 'birthday bunting' that goes up in this house and looks set to last forever. It's machine washable as it's just cotton.

I've never really like balloons anyway!

Where did you get that?

I actually love balloons, despise balloon releases though. But DS is 1 soon and I suppose it would be worth investing in some good birthday bunting now since it will have years of use

Kinsters · 26/06/2023 10:29

That balloon arch in the OP is vile, it looks like intestinal polyps. They're a huge thing where I live. Every birthday at the local softplay is accompanied by a massive custom balloon arch. A new gym opened up recently and for some inexplicable reason did a balloon release. Weird.

I have to say I do like the look of a nice balloon arch.

I think even if something is billed as biodegradable it could just be that it breaks down into microplastics? I could be wrong on that though.

refreshingseahorse · 26/06/2023 10:30

Yanbu and that image looks like an installation piece about death and disease.

Hollyppp · 26/06/2023 10:30

YANBU

Superdupes · 26/06/2023 10:32

HellsTeethandBucketsofBlood · 26/06/2023 10:10

What is the legal definition of biodegradable though? Isn't it something outrageous like it biodegrades within 500 years? I stopped using expensive biodegradable dog poo bags when I found that out

I don't know but Waitrose home compostable bags had clearly not broken down in my compost bin one year after they went in.

MonumentalLentil · 26/06/2023 10:35

MyFaceIsAnAONB · 26/06/2023 09:17

YANBU though. Whatever way you cut it, displays like that are wasteful really. But so are garden sprinklers, crisp packets, packaged bread etc, tvs using up energy etc.

There is a facility for recycling crisp packets and cat food pouches now.

StaySpicy · 26/06/2023 10:36

That's not a balloon arch. It's more of a balloon discharge.

The colours are awful, too.

Gingernaut · 26/06/2023 10:41

MyFaceIsAnAONB · 26/06/2023 09:15

I agree about helium and plastic balloons but those arches don’t require helium, I’ve done it myself without. Also our local balloon person uses biodegradable (rubber? Something about a rubber tree) balloons. So you can’t just assume people aren’t trying.

Latex is derived from the sap of rubber tres, that's true, but to make a useful product, it has to go through a series of energy intesive stages, with a mass of different chemicals

There is no excuse for plastic foil balloons

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mm3E2aNv0Lg

https://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-balloons

www.ChemistryIsLife.com - The Chemistry of Latex Balloons

Introduction Here you will find how chemistry is involved in making the latex balloon. I chose to do the chemistry of latex balloons because who doesn’t like party balloons? Balloons are an odd thing, I have always thought that because, well, it’s you...

https://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-balloons

LakeTiticaca · 26/06/2023 10:53

Uhg that looks disgusting 🤢 It reminds me of when my cat came home after a hunting expedition with a crop of ticks attached to his head. We didn't realise what they were until my son told us, and he also removed them.
Gross 🤮

xogossipgirlxo · 26/06/2023 10:55

Why is someone proposing by using gravestone? Too mortified to pop the question? 😂I agree though. Think of all the baby showers with gazillion balloons.

watcherintherye · 26/06/2023 10:59

Plant a fucking tree or something!

Absolutely. I read a very sad local news story about a mum who did just that. Planted a tree (with a memorial plaque) on a playing field, in memory of her baby daughter. Went back on the anniversary to find it had been sawn in half by someone, with only the stump left. Who would do that?

BigRedsBalloon · 26/06/2023 11:11

It’s the anti ballooners out in force again!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 26/06/2023 11:24

MonumentalLentil · 26/06/2023 10:35

There is a facility for recycling crisp packets and cat food pouches now.

Show quote history

I looked into that when we had a cat but you had to post them off somewhere at the time but it looks much better now.

I still can't find anywhere local to recycle my contact lens packaging though. When I asked previously Boots told me they no longer did it 'because of covid'. I wear dailies so have a lot of plastic. I looked into Terracycle but they wanted me to pay for the recycling box at the time so that was also a no.

ApplesInTheSunshine · 26/06/2023 11:25

Nope. Love a good balloon arch. Much prefer balloons as decorations to flowers so I always have lots of balloon displays at parties and events.

ApplesInTheSunshine · 26/06/2023 11:26

watcherintherye · 26/06/2023 10:59

Plant a fucking tree or something!

Absolutely. I read a very sad local news story about a mum who did just that. Planted a tree (with a memorial plaque) on a playing field, in memory of her baby daughter. Went back on the anniversary to find it had been sawn in half by someone, with only the stump left. Who would do that?

That is very sad but did she have permission to plant it there? Because you can’t just go around planting trees on land that isn’t yours.

bussteward · 26/06/2023 11:30

@PinkSparklyPussyCat How odd, all the Boots I know will accept lenses for recycling, as will independent opticians participating in TerraCycle schemes; Specsavers also have recycling boxes; and you can send for free to VisionDirect in the post.

MissyB1 · 26/06/2023 11:30

Totally agree! I refuse to buy balloons, we also have reusable bunting. And I’m sorry but balloon arches are the tackiest thing ever!