Two efforts―29.1-556.1. Release of certain balloons prohibited; civil penalty; community service. and Prevent Balloon Litter―are determined to reduce the number of balloons released into the wild.
The relatively new state law, effective July 1, 2021, bans “citizens from intentionally releasing or discarding any no-biodegradable or nonphotodegradable balloons in the outdoors in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Balloons are but just one typle of plastic litter identified by researchers to be harmful to the environment:
While litter and marine debris includes non-plastic items including shopping carts, bicycles, tires, beverage cans, cardboard packaging, and glass bottles, 83% of all debris items are made of plastic according to a four-year (2014-2018) study on four coastal beaches by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and Clean Virginia Waterways. (Source: 2021-2025 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan, p. 5)
Communities, organizations, or individuals wanting to abide by the law and make an affirmative statement in support of preventing litter from balloons can take the Pledge to Protect Wildlife by Not Releasing Balloons Intentionally (select "from preventballonlitter.org). People can also start using the alternatives identified by Prevent Balloon Litter.