Oslo’s city government has joined forces with several other local governments around Norway by banning the sale of helium balloons during the country’s 17th of May festivities.
A number of Norwegian cities, such as Stavanger, Bergen, Haugesund, Tromsø and Fredrikstad, have already refused to issue street sale licenses for helium balloons. All have done so on environmental grounds.
“It’s entirely possible to have fun without gas balloons,” declared Lan Nguyen Berg, the top city politician in charge of environmental issues.
The City of Oslo has instructed all local neighbourhood councils against allowing sales, although the balloons cannot be banned on private premises and will still be available to buy in stores.
Erik Lunde, head of the 17th of May Committee in Oslo, told state broadcaster NRK that; “some people will probably still try to sell helium balloons, but I urge everyone not to buy them because they represent a major environmental problem.”
