Our Discovery Gardens is a space to be enjoyed, but also to be respected. This week our pond was littered with pink plastic confetti, most likely someone used a glitter cannon to celebrate something in their life. We love that you wanted to celebrate in our gardens, but unfortunately the plastic confetti is a form of litter that is harmful to the environment. Please, when you enjoy the gardens, make sure to leave it better than you found it. The plastic confetti that was used for a one-time celebration will now be in our pond & gardens for years to come.
"Leave It Better Than You Found It"
(Updated: March 26, 2026, 11:53 a.m.)
“Once in the environment, "plastic waste" becomes "plastic pollution." Plastic waste is properly disposed of at a facility or designated bin, plastic pollution is discarded into the environment intentionally or unintentionally. “Plastics are persistent and may take between 100 to over 1,000 years to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.”
The confetti could be mistaken for food by fish and other wildlife. Plastic confetti contains microplastics that are harmful to the environment. Unfortunately, it could clog the filtration system in the pond causing major maintenance headaches. Some great alternatives to plastic confetti and glitter include flower petals, leaves, and bubbles.
Check out this great resource from the National Park Service to learn more about how long different materials take to decompose.
Our hope is that this can be an educational opportunity to learn about how litter can harm our environment. Thank you for helping us keep our Discovery Gardens clean and beautiful for all visitors.
Resources:
Texas State University - Glitter is Litter
Science Direct - Sustainable Plastic Waste in a Circular Economy
The Discovery Gardens are open from dawn to dusk everyday.
4024 Richlands Hwy, Jacksonville, NC
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