Local activist pushing for balloon bans in Worcester County

WORCESTER CO., Md. –  Following photos of an Assateague pony with a balloon string hanging from its mouth, a local advocate is hoping to convince commissioners in Worcester County to ban mass balloon releases.

Kerrie Bunting tried unsuccessfully in 2017 to have these mass balloon releases banned by Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council.

Now, Worcester County commissioners have shot down the idea of putting this on their agenda, citing their current laws against littering including non-biodegradable substances.

Bunting says many balloon companies list their products as biodegradable, rendering those litter laws obsolete. She argues strengthening laws to ban these balloon releases will help protect our local environment.

“These are people who really care about our environment, as well as the species that live in it. The state tourism and natural resources that we have in this state, economically, recreationally, commercially,” said Bunting.

The town of Ocean City and five states including Virginia have already banned balloon releases.

In their response to Bunting, the county did say they have been revisiting their litter laws recently and are working to develop a coordinated education, enforcement and cleanup campaign to address littering.