The Youth Leadership Council and Arc of Greater New Orleans are implementing a new program which aims to engage parade-goers in keeping the city clean. The organization will hand out recycling bags to people along parade routes, and volunteers will also be working at six recycling stations. As this program is still in development, it will only operate during Krewe of Freret and Thoth in the Uptown area.
Clear plastic bags will be used to collect aluminum and plastic items while purple mesh bags will be used for beads and other throws. After the parade, a disposal truck will collect the bags and distribute them to processing centers. The beads that are collected will be sorted as part of Arc’s ongoing bead recycling project which provides programming and opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to work with volunteers.
This program is an example of how Mardi Gras can be made more sustainable without sacrificing the elements paradegoers enjoy. By involving the New Orleans community, both locals and visitors have an opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the city by reducing pollution that clogs catch basins and creates unnecessary waste. Recycling beads is especially beneficial, as it supports Arc.
The recycling project may also reduce the burden placed on the city of New Orleans. During each day of Mardi Gras, as many as 600 workers and 87 pieces of equipment are used in cleanup efforts. Though it will still be necessary to clean the street even with the new program, recycling has the potential to reduce the number of items that workers must pick up. It can also reduce the amount the city spends on other maintenance projects, such as cleaning out the catch basins to prevent future flooding.
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