Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloons Recycle Helium This Year

http://earth911.com/blog/2008/11/27/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-to-recycle-helium/:

Today marks the 82nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. It also marks the second year that the helium used in some of the over-sized balloons will be recovered and recycled.

Linde North America is the provider of the helium used to inflate and lift the giant balloons, which include the likes of Snoopy, Buzz Lightyear, Kermit the Frog and Shrek. They will also lead the recovery and recycling effort of the helium from the balloons, focusing on the 31 medium-sized novelty balloons in the parade.

Steve Penn, head of global helium for Linde, said, "Linde's recovery and recycling efforts will positively impact the conservation of helium. Macy's has worked hand in hand with us to reduce the total amount of helium it uses year-on-year. Now Linde is applying helium recovery principles used successfully in other industries and in last year's Parade to increase the amount of helium that can be recaptured for recycling."

Read the whole story: http://earth911.com/blog/2008/11/27/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-to-recycle-helium/

Comments

[formerprosecutor]

I did a double take on the balloon in the photo; for a second I thought it was a celebration of erotica

[research]

Good!

[BSERIUS]

What ?? Were all the birds in the area inhaling the helium and chirping in higher voices?

[EarthToZoey]

If you actually read the article you would understand. It's a very short and easy read. Here, I'll cut to the chase for you:

"Helium is a limited and increasingly scare resource. It is produced very slowly through a process of decaying uranium and thorium. Currently, only about 5 percent of the world’s helium is being recycled."

[mathme]

I didn't know that anyone else was concerned about this. We just let it go, but, though it seems cheap and disposable, it's a limited resource. Maybe I worry too much.