Party balloons come in many sizes and can be made from latex, mylar, or plastic. Some are filled with helium and others are filled with exhaled air from the person who blew them up. Some are released into the air in celebration while others hang around the house until they deflate. All are colorful and most people associate them with fun occasions. However, balloons that are loose in the environment (which includes all of those balloons released outdoors in celebration or because a child let go of a string) can cause problems for wildlife and add to the bits of plastic or rubber accumulating in soil and water. Wildlife and sea creatures can eat the balloons or balloon bits or become entangled in the balloons or strings. Using helium to fill the balloons depletes the supply of a non-renewable resource that is very valuable in scientific, medical, and manufacturing applications. We cannot easily renew the world’s supply of helium once it’s used up, so it makes sense to save the supply for uses that are more important than balloons. Use your imagination to come up with personalized alternatives for your special occasions.
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Many people delight in beautiful gift-wrapped presents decorated with ribbon and bows. The gifts are beautiful but after only a few hours the wrapping paper and ribbons are tossed in the trash. One person in my life has come up with a creative idea for gifts. She puts the gifts in a cute re-usable shopping bag. The outside package is part of the gift and then becomes useful. The gift of the shopping bag will also encourage the receiver to shop with reusable bags.
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May 2024
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