Comment on You can no longer release a mass of balloons in this rural Maine town

The town of Unity will no longer permit the mass release of balloons amid concern over the impact of litter on the environment and wildlife. The Waterville Morning Sentinel reports that Unity residents at their annual town meeting on Saturday approved a prohibition against releasing 10 or more balloons within a 24-hour period. Penny Sampson, who chairs the Board of Selectmen and came up with the ordinance, called the prohibition a “baby step” toward greater environmental protection. “It’s not like we have a big balloon problem here in Unity, but we also wanted to sort of set a precedent, and hopefully this is something that could be passed statewide,” the Sentinel quoted Sampson as saying. Under the ordinance, it is unlawful for people or corporations to release 10 or more balloons inflated with a gas lighter than air in a 24-hour period.