Under consideration PE2266: Ban the release of helium balloons and sky lanterns across Scotland
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to legislate for the prevention of intended releases of helium balloons and sky lanterns by passing a dedicated Helium Balloon and Sky Lantern Prohibition Act creating regulations under existing environmental laws, or issuing statutory guidance that councils and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) must enforce.
Background information
The release of helium balloons and sky lanterns is an act of sending litter into the sky which can land anywhere.
There have been cases of farm animals and wildlife ingesting deflated helium balloons and suffocating to death, and fires started when the flames in lanterns do not go out before landing, as well as animals becoming tangled in the frames.
While 32 councils in Scotland have banned the release of helium balloons and sky lanterns from council land, there remains an issue of enforcement, release on private land, and authority to prevent planned releases, as was the case with several planned balloon releases announced in local newspapers. Despite a ban being in place in one area, the release went ahead.
There are laws regarding littering, and penalties for doing so. The same laws must apply to the release of helium balloons and sky lanterns and a ban implemented.
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