Balloons Trash Balloons are not recyclable or compostable, this includes latex and mylar. Check out the Party Favors and Decorations page for more sustainable alternatives. Balloons should be placed in the trash if they cannot be reused. To save space, pop your ballons before placing them in the trash. Consider ReuseCreate or buy crocheted water balloons. Instead of guiding guests to a party by using balloons, decorate cardboard to make signs. Check out the Party Favors and Decorations page for more sustainable alternatives. Never Release Balloons Releasing balloons into the sky is no different than littering trash directly onto the ground. In addition, littered balloons can be harmful or fatal to wildlife. Do Not Inhale Balloons are filled with helium that can displace oxygen in your lungs and endanger your health if inhaled. Ways to Reduce Replace with Alternative Decor Balloons are just one of many ways to decorate. Try replacing balloons with DIY honeycomb balls and other eco-friendly decorations. Ways to Reuse Reinflate Old Mylar Balloons After use, you can deflate and store mylar balloons and inflate them later with helium. Watch this video tutorial to find out how to deflate your ballons. Use in Crafts or Packaging This guide from Green Talk offers 10 different ways to reuse old mylar including for crafts, packaging, and protecting your home from pests. Did You Know? The Earth Has Only So Much Helium Nobel laureate Professor Robert Richardson warns that we are squandering our limited helium supply. Helium gas cannot be manufactured. When you inflate balloons with helium it is lost forever. The issue is that helium has vital uses in operating MRI scanners, rockets, and long range telescopes.