Catanzaro bans balloon releases for Madonna di Portosalvo celebration

The municipality of Catanzaro issued a permanent ordinance on December 30 prohibiting the release of balloons into the air and sea during the annual Madonna di Portosalvo festival. The measure aims to protect the local marine ecosystem, noting that balloons are non‑biodegradable, made of soft plastic that is 30 times more lethal to animals than hard plastic, and often end up as micro‑plastics that enter the food chain. Research cited shows balloon fragments constitute 80 % of waste found in marine turtle stomachs and rank third among hazardous waste for seabirds, turtles and seals.

Organizers urged residents and festival attendees to respect the ban, emphasizing that the brief celebratory display should not cause lasting environmental damage.