Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has called upon the Government to reclassify the launching of balloons as littering.
Speaking in Parliament today, Steve asked the Leader of the House to work with DEFRA Ministers to review the current legislation, which was last looked at in 2013, with a view to classifying balloon launches as littering.
Commenting, Steve said:
“It is illegal to litter under the Environmental Protection Act, with fines of up to £2,500 for each offence.”
“Under this act it is an offence to drop “or otherwise deposit” litter in a public place.”
“I don’t see the releasing of balloons as being any different. What goes up must come down and these balloons end up anywhere polluting our countryside and maritime environments with unsightly and dangerous waste.”
“On Love Your Beach Day I was pleased to highlight this issue in Parliament and will be meeting with the Secretary of State for the Environment to discuss how we can reform legislation to make this much needed change.”
To see Steve’s question follow the link here
