Kickstart: Deflating the potential for balloon pollution

Balloons are fun. They are also, when released in large numbers outdoors, are bad for the environment. So local and state governments are banning intentional releases.

As we mentioned previously in Kickstart, this isn't an issue of going after toddlers who lose their individual balloons, but rather big outdoor releases for celebrations such as weddings, gender unveiling parties, graduations and similar events.

Last year, Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law that will ban intentional outdoor releases starting in 2023, with exceptions in place for hot air balloons and government and scientific research.

And on Jan. 24 the Cleveland City Council passed a law that will levy a $150 fine on anyone releasing 10 or more balloons outdoors.

Clevelanders should know about balloon damage. In 1986, the city supported the release of 1.5 million balloons as part of Balloonfest. The balloons not only ended up littered across land and lakes, but also they were blamed for interfering with a search for two missing boaters.

Damage from balloons has continued. The New England Aquarium posted a news release Jan. 26 on its work to rescue a sea turtle that had managed to swallow the ribbon from a balloon. One end of the ribbon had passed completely through the turtle's digestive system while the other end was still outside its mouth.

Aquarium officials said the turtle is recovering from surgery.

There's a lot going on with recycling. Obviously items like the U.S. Plastics Pact and its take on "problematic" plastics has been a big headline grabber, but beyond that, Plastics News has seen a steady stream of stories on new projects to reclaim materials.

Consider two new plants just announced this week. In Mexico, Austria-based packaging maker Alpla and Coca-Cola bottler Coca-Cola FEMSA announced a $60 million PET recycling plant in Cunduacán.

And in Europe, U.S.-based packaging firm Plastipak Packaging Inc. announced it will double recycling capacity in Luxembourg.

"The big challenge today is the handling of the materials after the consumption phase," Alpla CEO Philipp Lehner said. "We are currently investing worldwide in systems to give plastic packaging a value, because then it is collected and recycled."

Anyone who attended an NPE at Chicago's McCormick Center should remember the Lakeside hall. Separated by a pedestrian walkway from the main facility, it was a bit worn down.

Who would want to lay odds on it being a centerpiece for visitors in the future? Well, casino operators would. The Lakeside building is part of proposals from a couple of casinos vying for the rights to build the first casino in Chicago.

A $1.3 billion bid from Rivers Casino would upgrade the existing building and says that by using that site it can open for business within 12 months.

A competing proposal from Bally would build a new facility near the Lakeside building, taking advantage of parking areas now used for truck and trailer parking.