Parma, 26 February 2026 — The Municipality of Parma has issued a new ordinance prohibiting, throughout the entire municipal territory, the voluntary and uncontrolled release of balloons (including biodegradable ones), colored ribbons, sky lanterns, plastic confetti and similar items, as well as the throwing onto public streets of solid or liquid substances such as eggs, flour, tomato sauce, oil, food, detergents, foams, and paints—practices often associated with public or private celebrations, graduation parties, degree ceremonies, or end-of-school-year festivities.
The municipal administration invites citizens, schools, associations, and event organizers to prioritize sustainable solutions that do not generate dispersed waste and do not require extraordinary cleaning efforts.
The ordinance is available here.
The primary objective of the ordinance is the protection of the environment, public safety, and urban decorum. The measure also highlights the need to reinforce attention to environmental sustainability, combating the dispersion of waste and microplastics and reducing the impact of materials that can have significant environmental consequences.
The ordinance is immediately enforceable and establishes monetary fines starting at 300 euros. Penalties also include the obligation to restore the affected area for those who violate the prohibitions.
Monitoring and enforcement of the ordinance are entrusted to the Local Police Corps of the Municipality of Parma and to judicial police authorities.
The University of Parma strongly welcomes this measure, which addresses an issue particularly significant for the University and one on which the institution has intervened multiple times. Unfortunately, the throwing of plastic confetti and similar materials continues to occur during celebrations following graduation sessions—disrespectful behaviors that undeniably deface university areas, adjacent streets, and surrounding spaces.
In light of the new ordinance as well, the University reiterates its invitation to celebrate an important milestone such as graduation freely, yet without using confetti or other plastic materials, opting instead for forms of celebration that express joy and togetherness while remaining respectful of people and of the environment in which we live—our shared heritage that we must all safeguard together.
