Releasing things into the sky may look beautiful momentarily however eventually all things fall back down to earth. This is no different from dropping something on the floor. Fireworks, lanterns and balloons can all have devastating impacts for our environment and wildfire.

Please choose alternatives to celebrate. #DontInflate2Celebrate

Fireworks not only scare the life out of your pets but also contain many components including nonbiodegradable plastics. Following a firework being launched, these components are dispersed over large areas before being displaced back down to both the land and sea. This often results in the debris not being collected by the display organisers, so the plastic and other material pollutes the local environment, harming wildlife, pets and humans. Litter Free are keen to work with event organisers to find ways to reduce the environmental impacts of firework displays.

For the run up to 5^th November 2020, Litter Free is running a firework-free, fun bonfire night campaign ‘It’s Not Rocket Science’. As organised firework displays are taking a backseat this year, we thought it would be a good opportunity to shake up bonfire night and try some alternative ways to have some fun. Join in and tell us what you have planned this year whether that’s heading into the garden to enjoy sparklers, cooking up something super cosy or lighting up the living room instead! Use the hashtag #ItsNotRocketScience and share how your family have sparkled sustainably this year.

Some ideas to get you started…

• A fire pit in the garden with a mug of something mulled
• Toasting marshmallows and tucking into toffee apples
• A moonlit walk or stargazing (if the stars are out!)
• Creating a cosy feast full of comfort
• Get crafty with a window display to wow the neighbours

Helium balloons once released can travel miles and miles across the country. They often end up in rural countryside or in the ocean where animals can mistake them for food. There are so many better ways to celebrate including bunting and bubbles!

The Rubber jelly fish film shows a painful truth. Turtles can often mistake balloons for jelly fish. If a turtle ingests a balloon, it has a negative effect on its feeding pattern – any debris swallowed affects the function of the gut and can lead to starvation due to a condition known as ‘Floating Syndrome’.

Lanterns pose a huge fire risk not only to our precious Dorset heath land but also are own homes. Lanterns can also be eaten by livestock. Dorset Council are working to put a Balloon and Lantern release policy together which supports the work started by Litter Free Coast and Sea’s Balloon and Lantern Release Charter.