Grad student of the University of Michigan Lara O’Brien launched a balloon debris survey earlier this year, allowing users to log their balloon litter findings as they help to create an up-to-date online record.
The fully interactive survey, which launched in June, was created in response to the news last year that around 18,000 balloons or pieces of balloons (both latex and foil) were found during the Great Lakes beach clean-ups between 2016 and 2018.
Dozens of people have reported balloon pollution around the Great Lakes since the survey launched just five months ago. Users can also upload photographs, which show that many of the balloons have been released with string attached.
“It’s part of the larger plastic issue and marine debris issue,” said Lara. “With balloons, it’s something specific. It’s something tangible. A little bit of awareness can change people’s behaviour.”
US body The Balloon Council took a stance against balloon launches last year, saying that: “Over the years, as the social and political climates have changed, our position has also evolved. This change in stance fully recognizes the need for everyone to be as ‘green’ as we possibly can be to protect our planet.”
