Sky Lantern and Balloon Release (SLBR) Policy

Balloon and sky lantern releases are a popular way of promoting publicity, fundraising and marking events such as weddings or commemorations.

As part of the evidence gathering taken place by the multi-agency group in 2015 a report was collated (see appendix 1).

In addition, the group discovered a report created for DEFRA by ADAS (an agricultural and environmental consultancy that provides policy advice and research and development) in 2013 entitled “Sky lanterns and helium balloons: an assessment of impacts on livestock and the environment”

This document gives a comprehensive account of the evidence of the impact of sky lanterns and balloons. National evidence of impact is sparse.

The key potential impacts sky lantern and balloon releases can have are listed below:

• risks to livestock and animal health (including marine animals) through ingestion, entanglement and fire risk
• fire risk (sky lanterns only) damaging habitats (including protected ones such as heathland) and property Impacts on the environment, littering on land and at sea
• risks to aviation
• risks to coastal rescue services (mistaken for distress flares)
• risks to consumer safety (there is a variety of sky lanterns on the market, some more safe to use than others)
• waste of limited helium resources (helium balloons only)

The UK Government currently has no policy on sky lantern and balloon releases although there is mounting pressure from national charities such as Marine Conservation Society, RSPCA and NFU for national and local bans to be put in place. 

Marine Conservation Society recommend in a report that balloons and lanterns are classed as litter and outdoor releases made illegal under existing national legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

The Marine Conservation Society holds a list of councils in the United Kingdom that have a ban in place on sky lantern and/or balloon releases. The list has over 80 councils including Cornwall Council and Devon County Council locally.

The main challenge of introducing this policy the issue of enforcement.

The 2015 multi-agency group looked into bans in the form of byelaws and public space protection orders and found that public space protection order had been used by other councils (Cornwall Council in 2015) and would be most enforceable.

The other challenge will be getting the policy embedded within the whole council.

This is being overcome by the creation of an action plan that gives each Service Manager the tools and the responsibility to embed the policy.

A communications campaign across the council raising awareness of the new policy and how to implement it in your work will also be delivered. 

For the avoidance of doubt, piloted hot air balloons are not covered by this policy. 

Helium balloons may also be permitted when used for research purposes, for example weather balloons, as long as supporting evidence is provided, identifying any risk and/ or any hazards to the environment and with any appropriate mitigation. 

Once the Council is notified of potential releases within the Dorset Council area the council will work with event organisers to suggest suitable alternatives to outdoor balloon and lantern releases and/ or to provide advice and guidance on the potential disposal of these items. 

The council will inform event organisers of the Balloon and Sky Lantern Release Policy by means of including relevant information within booking forms and other promotional materials. 

The council will also at its own discretion and where appropriate include details of this policy within any new leases or licences of land and/ or buildings where permitted events take place at those locations.

An action plan and internal communications campaign will be formulated by hosted partnership project “Litter Free Coast and Sea” (working with Dorset Council Comms team) to ensure all council services embed this policy within their working and promote sustainable alternatives

A communications plan will also be formulated and implemented to call for the restriction of sky lantern and balloon releases by other landowners across Dorset, dissuade the release of sky lantern and balloon releases by Dorset residents and promote sustainable alternatives.

This Policy will be reviewed in two years’ time via an internal audit.

This policy was last reviewed in 2021. 

The next expected review date is 2025.