The use of confetti at Santa Barbara parades and festivals is growing, in both the number of events where confetti is used and the volume of confetti tossed, according to the city.
While confetti eggs or cascarones have a long tradition at Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days, the city reports large bags of confetti are being sold and dumped on local sidewalks, streets, and in parks, creating pollution issues and threats to wildlife.
In addition to paper confetti, the volume of shiny metallic confetti, sequins, glitter, and silly string used at community events is increasing. These are all made of plastic and are often mistaken for food and consumed by birds and other animals.
Confetti can easily wash or blow into storm drains, creeks and the ocean, where it poses a hazard to aquatic life, and pollutes the environment.
People celebrating in the city are, encouraged to choose paper confetti and use it sparingly, the city said.
- Storm drains lead to creeks and ocean untreated, polluting creeks and beaches.
- Confetti can be mistaken for food by birds, fish, and other wildlife.
- Shiny metallic confetti, sequins, and glitter are all made of plastic, which is not biodegradable.
- Throwing confetti and leaving it behind is littering.
Vendors who are making cascarones to sell are asked to use only paper confetti (or leaves), and not add plastic or foam decorations on the outside of the eggs. More information at the following links:
To learn more about confetti litter, watch the video at Use of Confetti PSA.