Homeowner frustrated after finding disappointing scene in local field: 'I can't even report them'

Responsible get-togethers and local parties are great, but accountability often gets lost amid the festivities.

Take this Reddit post in the r/MildlyInfuriating subreddit, for example. According to the original poster, some unknown neighbors threw a party in an adjacent field, leaving behind a ton of balloons in the aftermath. "I can't even report them," the post goes on, because of the unknown identities.

It's doubtful that any real malice was involved, but the adage applies: "It's not a problem if I don't see it."

According to a FindLaw survey, 18% of neighbor disputes begin over visible trash, which includes everything imaginable, like overflowing trash, offensive signs, or a pile of balloons left behind.

It's especially tiresome for those who appreciate a vibrant, healthy environment and seek climate-friendly solutions and alternatives to traditional conveniences.

For instance, working hard to clean up a neighborhood, growing a native garden or lawn, or contributing to a more environmentally friendly future is difficult when neighbors are doing the exact opposite.

The obvious answer, in this scenario, is to clean up the balloons, but a derelict neighbor is likely to continue unabated.

One Reddit response proposed a reasonable idea, leveraging local social media to call out the litterers: "Does your community have a Nextdoor or facebook group? Post this where everyone locally will see it."

If nothing else, it might be enough to trigger a guilty response. Another post mentioned the biodegradable nature of latex.

However, while latex is biodegradable, it can still harm local wildlife if it ends up in their esophagus or digestive tract. Wildlife entanglement is also a potential issue.

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Some latex balloons contain additives that can slow biodegradation and create micropollutants. None of these accounts for the strings and ribbons that may be attached or the vulgarized view from the balloons as they decompose over months.

As you might expect, some of the Reddit comments were simply incredulous, finding it difficult to understand the mentality. One said: "I still don't understand how balloon releases are legal but littering isn't."

The OP closed out the comments with an understandable feeling of anger: "They just threw the balloons in the grass."

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