12 • 02 • 2021
Party Ocean-Friendly, Palm Beach Gardens
The Surfrider Foundation strongly supports Palm Beach Gardens Resolution 69, 2021 to prohibit glitter, confetti and balloons on public property for the protection of wildlife and the marine environment.
On December 2, 2021 there was a vote on Resolution 69, 2021. The city voted 4-1 in favor of the Resolution here 1:28 where the education aspect of it was highly valued and promoted. This was something the Surfrider Foundation highly encouraged in our comments and calls.
“Let's find other ways to find joy that won't hurt the environment” and “Sometimes you just have to standup and be the changemaker,” City of Palm Beach Gardens.
The Palm Beach County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is in strong support of Resolution 69, 2021 prohibiting balloons and confetti products on public property in the City of Palm Beach Gardens, as well as the continued education and encouragement of all residents and businesses in the city to reduce or eliminate use of all balloons, glitter, and confetti products. We are grateful to see the city move toward a sustainable choice for special memorials and celebratory events.
Surfrider Foundation sent comments in support and encouraged the inclusion of glitter and public education in the resolution language. We additionally provided the many suggestions for replacements for confetti and balloons that cause no ecological harm such as throwing real flower petals, dried leaves, birdseed, tissue paper pompoms, native seed bombs, chalk art displays, and even encouraging the use of ribbon dancers, reusable streamers, luminaries, kites, pinwheels and garden spinners. Additionally, we suggested the planting of live native trees, flower gardens or butterfly gardens in honor or memory of a person or event lasts much longer and provides shelter, resources and clean air to people and wildlife. We hope the city will encourage and inform the public of these environmentally friendly alternatives.
Special thanks to the City of Palm Beach Gardens elected from our many Surfrider Foundation Palm Beach Chapter volunteers, and our volunteers throughout the state for leading the way and putting forth this resolution for a more ecologically friendly and sustainable Palm Beach Gardens!