At a Glance

New Shoreham is on Block Island, about 12 miles south of the mainland and home tojust over 1,000 people.The town council voted to ban balloons to protect the environment and wildlife.

A tiny Rhode Island town has taken a stand to protect the environment and wildlife by banning balloons.

Earlier this month, inNew Shoreham, which ison about 12 miles south of the mainland and home tojust over 1,000 people,the town council passed an ordinance banning balloons on the 10-square-mile island. Theban went into effect this week.

"Balloons pose a risk and nuisance to the environment, particularly to wildlife and marine animals. Anyone who walks the beach or spends time on the water has seen that balloons have become common in the local marine ecosystem," the council said in.

, which can ultimately kill them, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Animals can also become entangled in string hanging from balloons.

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The announcement of the ban included a link to, which offers suggestions for environmentallyfriendly alternatives for balloons at parties and other festivities. They include pinwheels, streamers, flagsand banners. The sitenotes that sky lanterns are not environmentally friendly and are a poor alternative.

New Shoreham joins other Northeaster cities, includingAtlantic City, New Jersey, andNantucket and Provincetown inMassachusett,in banning balloons.