Cork is banning BALLOONS, but for a very important reason

Cork is banning the release of balloons.

Yes, we're serious. Party-goers could soon be charged with a fine if they let a balloon up into the air. Independent councillor Marcia D’Alton proposed the new measure, with Cork County Council’s Environment Directorate backing it up. Marcia addressed the new measure by explaining that many balloons which are let up into the air, often fall back down and endanger wildlife. According to Beat, the councillor denied she was a party-pooper and said she's just looking out for the animals. She said: “Balloons can be made of either mylar or latex. Mylar is a plastic and simply doesn’t biodegrade. "Latex in the natural state is biodegradable but balloons on land can take six months to biodegrade and 12 months at sea. “On land balloon fragments can harm wildlife, domestic animals and livestock. “In the sea turtles, birds and other surface-feeding animals can mistake floating balloons for jellyfish and may eat them. "Balloons can directly cause a slow and miserable death by blocking the digestive tract, eventually leading to starvation.” It is unknown when the measure will be set in place, but it is thought to be within the next year.