Mylar balloons are one of the most unnecessarily destructive novelty products there is.

Mylar balloons are one of the most unnecessarily destructive novelty products there is. We have seen a dramatic increase in their usage due in large part to certain aspects of social media culture. Made from, "polyethylene terephthalate." A synthetic nylon with a metallic coating that actually conducts electricity. These balloons can float into power lines, cause outages, fires, and even death. In California alone, mylar balloons are estimated to cause $120M a year in damages. They reportedly contribute to 500 blackouts a year, adding up to 12M minutes of lost power, and millions of dollars in downtime for small business.  At sea, their effects may not be as explosive, but they are just as destructive. The balloons can be carried thousands of miles by wind and ocean currents. They do not biodegrade, they do not sink, and their chemicals leach into the water. Sea turtles, Dolphins, Porpoise, Wales, fish and birds have all been found with this material in their stomachs. Ribbons and strings can entangle, animals leading to disfigurement and death. They also contribute to the plastic pollution that is now in our food chain. This is why we are committed to not just pick up the balloons at sea, and teach others to do the same, but ban this cheap imported product that is so destructive. help us make a difference! visit our website for more information. http://rvpilar.org/mylar-balloon