Coalition of Local Organizations and Non-Profits Team Up to Help Make Mardi Gras More Sustainable
NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced that this Carnival season, it is partnering with New Orleans & Company, Grounds Krewe and the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) with support from other non-profits dedicated to resilience and sustainability on the Recycle Dat! initiative to expand upon ArcGNO’s and Grounds Krewe’s well established Carnival recycling efforts.
"While Carnival is meant to be a time of celebration and indulgence, it doesn't mean that we can't make the season healthier for our environment. We're excited for Mardi Gras and my administration is committed to making the festivities greener and more sustainable,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Thank you to the many generous community groups and volunteers who are stepping forward to lend their time, funding and expertise to this exciting new initiative."
During the 2022 Carnival season, 1,150 tons of trash associated with Mardi Gras were sent to the landfill in 11 days. With Recycle Dat!, this coalition wants to make Mardi Gras more environmentally sustainable by helping to ease the pressure off our waste management system and decrease the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
Residents can do their part by taking advantage of the following recycling options:
- Four to Five stationary “Recycling Hubs” for cans, beads and glass collection between Napoleon Avenue and Poydras Street
- Eight to 10 stationary “Can Stations” for aluminum can collection only between Napoleon Avenue and Louisiana Avenue
- Volunteers will distribute bead collection bags ahead of the first day parade each day (Feb. 11-12 and Feb. 18-19) and follow the last day parade to collect filled bead bags
- At the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Mardi Gras ball attendees should look out for the recycling stations that will be collecting beads, used aluminum beverage cans and glass bottles
Disclaimer: While the Recycling Hubs will accept empty glass bottles, it is important to note that glass is not allowed on the parade route (City Ordinance Sect 54-404). We discourage parade goers from using them along the route.
All aluminum beverage cans collected along the Uptown parade route will be driven to EMR Metal Recycling, which will pay market rate for the cans and then the revenue generated will be given to three local charities — Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Louisiana SPCA and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity — with CMI doubling the money raised up to the first $5,000. Residents are also encouraged to bring empty used beverage cans to the EMR Metal Recycling Mid-City location (2525 Lafitte St.), where they can be paid via personal check for the value of used cans or donate the amount to the three partner charities. The goal is for CMI’s total $10,000 match opportunity to be fully used, which would mean 500,000 aluminum beverage cans were collected and recycled.
“Together with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, we are committed to a cleaner Louisiana – not only for the millions of people who visit each year but also the millions of people who call this great state home. Recycling plays an important role in reducing waste and improving everyone’s quality of life. So support the Recycle Dat! initiative this carnival season and catch or pick-up as many beads as you can so they don’t wind up clogging drains and harming our environment,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
“New Orleans annually puts on the greatest free show on earth…and for the longest time, the City would determine the success of Mardi Gras by the amount of trash collected along the route,” said Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “Producing and executing complex events is a specialty of ours here in New Orleans. This coalition of organizations working together to introduce initiatives like this one is another example of how we continue to become a more innovative city and represents why we are built to host special events like no other place on the planet.”
"Grounds Krewe is proud to see parade recycling efforts grow this year with new partners and expanded reach under the Recycle Dat! initiative,” said Brett Davis, Director of Grounds Krewe. “We appreciate the growing calls from residents and visitors to reduce the amount of waste created during Carnival and make our city’s highest profile event something to which we can all be proud.”
While increasing recycling efforts is the focus of this initiative, residents and krewes should not forget about the importance of sustainable throws. Grounds Krewe continues to be at the forefront of Mardi Gras sustainability innovation by designing, assembling and selling affordable, eco-friendly parade throws meant to displace imported, disposable, plastic offerings often left in the streets.
The NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps needs residents' help in supporting several different operations throughout the Mardi Gras season including Recycle Dat!, special needs Mardi Gras balls, canvassing St. Charles Avenue and working at First Aid stations. Residents can sign up to become a volunteer on the NOLA Ready website here.
To learn more about Recycle Dat! please visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/recycling/.
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