Can you recycle balloons?

Latex balloons take years to break down and kill wildlife; foil balloons are metallised plastic and cause power cuts when released. Both are general waste (foil balloons deflated and folded). Balloon releases are banned by many councils.

Tips

• Deflate foil balloons fully — some party shops refill them for reuse

Which bin does it go in?

General waste — latex or foil, burst or not. Never release them.

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: What goes in each household bin?.

Also searched as: foil balloons, helium balloons, party balloons.