Way to go Malta! 39 of the 68 local councils around the Maltese Islands (so far) have agreed to stop using balloons and plastic confetti during events in their localities. And this comes right on time, considering festa season is upon us!

The Local Councils Association’s pledge to discontinue the use of balloons and plastic confetti will be signed by these 39 local councils, ahead of an expected nationwide ban on single-use plastics due to begin in the coming year, as noted in a statement released by the association. The European Union has also agreed to ban such items by 2021. The ban also calls for action to be taken regarding cigarette butt littering.

After all, what goes up must come down. Items such as balloons, plastic confetti and straws are harmful to the environment and are polluting land and sea, often killing animals that ingest them. It’s all about having a cleaner environment and conserving the planet!

The 39 councils that have banned balloons and confetti

The 39 local councils who will be signing the pledge are: Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Floriana, Ghajnsielem, Gharghur, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Zebbug, Iklin, Kalkara, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mdina, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, Msida, Mtarfa, Nadur, Naxxar, Pembroke, Pieta’, Qrendi, Rabat, Safi, San Gwann, Santa Lucija, Santa Venera, Senglea, Siggiewi, Sliema, St Paul’s Bay, Swieqi, Ta’ Xbiex, and Victoria, Gozo.