Do the environment a favor: Don’t buy Mylar balloons
Remnants of celebrations litter the landscape, harm wildlife and affect humans

By Michael Viramontes | Contributing Columnist

Mylar balloons are everywhere. No matter where I am I can find one. When monitoring conservation lands throughout the Inland Empire, the most common type of trash I find in the most remote locations is always Mylar balloons. Although I hate seeing them, I love collecting them. I’m obsessed. When I see the metallic reflection of these celebratory balloons in the landscape, I just have to collect them before leaving the site. I have a trophy wall of containers stuffed with my collection of balloons. Some of my most common finds include graduation caps, Valentine’s Day hearts, Mother’s Day designs, and of course, Paw Patrol characters.

Due to my constant online ranting and documentation of my balloon finds, I’ve come to be known in my social circle as the “Mylar Balloon Guy.” Internet friends I’ve never met send pictures and videos of Mylar balloons found in the wild. Friends and family are quick to point out Mylar balloons at parties, hoping to entrap me in an awkward discussion with the party host. I don’t want to argue, just share the facts. These buoyant tokens of celebration litter our landscape and bring harm to wildlife and humans too.

The same iridescent Mylar material that catches our eye at the party store attracts wildlife and is sometimes consumed by them, mistaken for food. According to the Ocean Conservation Society, balloons are the No. 1 cause of debris-related death in seabirds. Balloon strings also pose a hazard to wildlife, causing strangulation or damage to internal organs if consumed.

Over time the once-airborne Mylar balloons break down into micro plastics, with even the metallic color coating separating from the inner sheath. Micro Mylar glitter litters our most secluded open spaces.

Power lines are also at risk. Electrical wires are often shorted out when the metallic balloons make contact. Additionally,  some balloons can react explosively and cause further damage to power lines or even spark wildfires. In 2022 alone, Southern California Edison had 802 metallic balloon related outages, cutting power to 1.1 million customers.

Over an eight-month period in 2021, I tracked my balloon collection chronicles and noted 35 balloons collected while out in the field. During that same period, 15 friends collected an additional 35 balloons and reported them to me. Amy Tims collected five Mylar balloons while conducting weed control work in the Angeles National Forest. The furthest balloon was found over 12 miles northeast of the nearest suburban neighborhood in Altadena.

“Mylar balloons are a common find for the weed crew,” Amy said. “In remote locations you’ll usually find historic trash like rusty old cans and glass bottles, but now Mylar balloons are found frequently there as well — especially around grad season.”

California recognizes this issue as well and is taking action. Under Assembly Bill 847 signed into law in September, the sale of Mylar balloons as we know them will be outlawed by the end of 2027. The law will require that Mylar balloons sold in California do not conduct electricity. To address this issue, San Diego Gas & Electric has worked with the balloon manufacturer, Anagram, to develop a non-conductive foil balloon prototype.

This year, I encourage you to celebrate your graduates, mothers, and birthday boys and girls in a more safe and sustainable way. Eco-alternatives are the way to go.

Living house plants can be a great gift for college-bound friends and family. A potted pothos or monstera is easy to care for and can really liven up a musty dorm room. Meraki Plants in downtown Riverside has a collection of plants that make great gifts and solid tips on plant care.

Still have the urge to throw around celebratory microplastics? Try making some upcycled leaf confetti instead. Use a hole punch on the leaves in your landscape waste and throw some dried flower petals in as well. You can purchase mini-paper punches in a variety of festive shapes and add to the celebration by having your family help make them. Maybe you can help set a new trend of tossing party-potpourri.

If potted plants are not your style, consider giving a gift that encourages spending time in nature to relieve the stress of college, motherhood and getting older. National and state park passes make great gifts, as do memberships to nearby arboretums and botanical gardens.

Of course, the easiest eco-friendly gift is to give the person you are celebrating some crisp new bills. Money is always a hit and paper currency is biodegradable, too. Chances are the giftee will spend your gift on something other than Mylar balloons.

Rivers & Lands Conservancy connects our community to natural, wild, and open spaces of Southern California through land conservation, stewardship, and education.

Michael Viramontes is the Stewardship Manager of Rivers & Lands Conservancy, has a bachelor of science in environmental studies and natural resource management from San Jose State University.