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Advice on The Far North Coast of NSW imposed a ban on the use of balloons in an effort to better protect the environment, minimize landfilling and reduce waste.
Byron The county council announced on Tuesday that it would prohibition the use of balloons and other disposable decorations in all municipal buildings, parks and open spaces.
The ban includes biodegradable balloons, helium, latex and water balloons, as well as glitter, confetti, streamers, tinsel, party poppers and glow sticks.
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Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said it was “the right thing to do”.
“We know that balloons are one of the deadliest types of litter affecting Australian seabirds and other marine life, including turtles, which eat burst balloons because they look like jellyfish,” he said.
“If balloons and party decorations end up in our oceans and waterways and cause harm to our precious marine life, we need to take decisive and immediate action to stop this from happening.”
The ban will affect anyone who organizes events in council facilities such as community halls, parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, swimming pools and road reserves such as post boxes and street poles.
The council is encouraging the community to switch to reusable alternatives such as flowers, bunting, fairy lights and bubbles.
“Many local events and venues have already taken steps to remove some of these elements, and this is just the next phase of Byron leading the way,” Lyon said.
The announcement comes after the council introduced its packaging and single-use policy on June 1.
The council will run educational campaigns, workshops and online resources to support the transition.
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