Releasing plastic litter into the air is very wrong and everyone should now be aware of this. What goes up must come down, and people that release balloons do not see the effect on wildlife or the environment when they come down, as they are often miles and miles away.
A local charity for autism were going to do a balloon release and I'm glad to say they agreed to cancel it due to the children involved being upset about it because of the impact on wildlife and the environment.
I've seen the results for myself, as well as tragic photographs on Facebook. I live on the Northumberland coast and walk the beach every day. I have regularly found dead seabirds, especially puffins, entangled in balloon ribbons, often with the seawater filled helium balloon still attached. An awful death not witnessed by the person releasing the balloon.
Balloon releasers are supposed to cut the string to 5 cm before release, they never are.
It is just free littering.
I would like to see balloons and lanterns banned and have signed many petitions.