Environmental Issues
Helium Safety
Helium is an inert gas and is Non-Flammable and Non-Toxic.
Helium does not support life and should not be inhaled. Inhaling helium replaces the oxygen in your lungs and can cause dizziness, unconsciousness and possibly death.
Helium facts:
Contrary to media reports the world is not running out of helium. Helium is a natural resource with many countries around the world including Australia having very large reserves.
The helium used in balloons is not the helium used for MRI’s and in fact it is the waste product from the helium used for MRI’s . MRI’s require 99% pure helium and the waste from the MRI’s is collected and used as balloon gas because the impurities at this point do not allow it to be used for any other purpose. So it can be wasted and released into the atmosphere or collected and reused for balloons.
Latex Balloons
Balloon Elegance uses only the very best latex balloons which are made from 100% latex, not plastic.
They are 100% BIODEGRADABLE and will breakdown at the rate of an oakleaf. They can be used in compost bins and as garden mulch .
Latex balloons are made from a natural product that is derived from the Para Rubber Tree. They are not plastic.
Rubber tree farming creates employment for people and a valuable export commodity in many third world countries.
The vast tree plantations take in Co2 and capture the carbon to counter global warming.
Environmentalist try to blame balloons for killing bird and marine life. There is actually no documented evidence that balloons have been the cause of any animal death. Balloon suppliers are not environmental vandals as the environmentalist will have you believe. We try to educate our customers on the correct disposal of their party balloons by Pinning and Binning them when finished. We are just as concerned about environmental issues as anyone else but miss information about our product is not going to achieve anything.
Clean up Australia reports identify that 1% of rubbish collected is rubber and most of that is tyres, rubber thongs and rubber gloves. Balloons have never been mentioned as a litter item in their reports. If balloons are such a litter problem why don’t we see them in the streets. They just don’t head to the waterways if released.
Balloon Releases
In 1999 the Carr Government banned mass balloon releases in NSW. This rule currently stands and NSW is the only state affected by this law.
In NSW the maximum number of balloons that can be released is nineteen (19). These can only be 30cm latex balloons which are 100% BIO-DEGRADABLE and attached only to biodegradable ribbon.
Balloon releases should not be done as a DIY option because of the ribbon and clips used. All balloons must be hand tied.
When balloons are released they will rise approximately 8,500 meters where the air is extremely cold and thin, causing the latex balloons to shatter into very small pieces. These pieces of latex will fall to earth and start to decompose. If animals ingest these fragments they are so small as to pass through without any ill effects.
Many balloons found in the waterways that are not small fragments have been disposed of by recreational fisherman who use balloons to take their lines out further. This is common practice, it is well published in magazines and these people have no regard for how they dispose of the balloon after use and the effects it can have. No different to the used fishing line and plastic bags that they also dispose of recklessly. Education is paramount but most people don’t seem to care if their actions are reckless as long as they can continue doing what they want.