Posted on Jan 28, 2026 | Blog,News
You Can Help Make Mardi Gras Cleaner and Greener
Mardi Gras parades are at the heart of Louisiana’s culture, but the litter and waste generated can be unsightly and harmful to our environment if left unaddressed. Following parades, cups, food wrappers, toxic plastic beads, and disposable trinkets litter the streets and often end up in storm drains, polluting our waterways. If we work together, we can make Mardi Gras cleaner and greener.
As a parade-goer, these are ways you can help:
- Pack a bag for your throws and a bag for your trash. Take your trash with you, sort out your recyclables, and dispose of everything properly.
- Organize a post-Mardi Gras cleanup to keep litter from clogging our storm drains and entering our waterways. See the list of local opportunities in this post below.
- Donate your beads and throws. Prevent beads from entering our waterways and landfills. You can donate them to groups like ArcGNO Mardi Gras Recycle Center (MGRC). In the New Orleans area and the Northshore, Grounds Krewe offers a list of sites accepting clean and unbroken beads, cups, toys, plush, doubloons, etc. Check with your parish government for local information.
As a krewe member or parade organizer, these are ways you can help:
Keep Louisiana Beautiful and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. created and published the Greener Grounds Guidebook and Workbook to provide practical ways you can plan to manage and reduce waste, increase recycling, and prevent litter at large outdoor events. The guidebook and workbook are free to use, and there is a section on reducing litter and waste at parades. Best practices highlighted in the guidebook include:
- Collect buy-in from krewe members on your commitment to reducing litter and waste.
- Focus on sourcing more sustainable, reusable, and easily recyclable throws like those sold by Grounds Krewe.
- Assign responsibility to float captains to be litter prevention ambassadors.
- Adopt a krewe policy to prohibit tossing anything from the floats except throws along the parade route.
KLB encourages outdoor event organizers in Louisiana to download the Greener Grounds Guidebook and Workbook for free. Event organizers can reach out to KLB with questions at [email protected]. Also make sure to check out the Greener Grounds Grant, a grant designed to support events’ sustainability goals.
Volunteer and Support Local Efforts
KLB Community Affiliates and partner organizations play a large role in supporting a cleaner, greener Mardi Gras on the local level. See below how local organizations are doing their part to reduce litter this Mardi Gras season! Do you have an effort that you would like added to the list? Contact [email protected].
Keep Abita Beautiful
Initiative: Keep Abita Beautiful will be placing trash and recycling cans along the Push Mow Parade route and around Town Hall. Bins will also be available at the Town Hall for bead and throw collection.
When: The Push Mow Parade is Saturday, February 7. Bins for beads and throws will be available for three weeks following the parade.
Where: Downtown Abita Springs
Learn more: Contact [email protected] and visit the Keep Abita Beautiful Facebook page.
Keep Algiers Beautiful
Initiative: Keep Algiers Beautiful is working with Grounds Krewe to pick up cans and bottles after the NOMTOC parade. Volunteer opportunities are available.
When: Saturday, February 14, 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Parade starts at Fiesta St. and Holiday Dr. Find more information on the route here.
Learn more: Contact [email protected] and visit the Keep Algiers Beautiful Facebook page.
Keep Eunice Beautiful:
Initiative: Keep Eunice Beautiful will have a cleanup ahead of Mardi Gras, picking up litter in intersections, downtown, major shopping area parking lots, and around the four welcome signs.
When: Saturday, February 7, 9 a.m – 11 a.m.
Where: Throughout Eunice
Learn more: Contact [email protected] and visit the Keep Eunice Beautiful Facebook page.
Keep Jefferson Parish Beautiful
Initiative: Keep Jefferson Parish Beautiful, in a partnership with ArcGNO , has two (2) year-round drop-off locations for ALL Mardi Gras throws, including beads, trinkets, doubloons, and plush toys, at their Jefferson Parish Citizen Trash Drop-Off Sites . ArcGNO creates wage-earning jobs for individuals with intellectual disabilities by collecting, sorting, and repackaging Mardi Gras throws. Keep Jefferson Parish Beautiful members will also volunteer with Jefferson Parish work crews who walk parade routes and clean up all litter, trash, and debris left behind after parades.
When: Multiple dates throughout February. See the Jefferson Parish Parade schedule here. Mardi Gras beads and throws are collected year-round.
Where: Mardi Gras bead and throw collection is available at 400 David Drive, Metairie, LA 70003, and 6440 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero, LA, 70072.
Learn more: Contact Barbara Arcement at [email protected] or 504-731-4622 to get involved.
Keep Lafayette Beautiful, University of Louisiana at Lafayette AmeriCorps, and Parish Proud
Initiative: Keep Lafayette Beautiful, University of Louisiana at Lafayette AmeriCorps, and Parish Proud are teaming up for the Mardi Gras Clean Sweep to pick up parade litter.
When: Saturday, February 21, 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Volunteers meet at Blackham Coliseum, 2330 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503
Learn more: Volunteers can sign up here. Visit the Parish Proud Facebook page for more details.
Keep Slidell Beautiful
Initiative: Keep Slidell Beautiful will place straw wattles in drains along the parade route to protect the drainage system. They will also supply around 400 trash cans for the parade route. Finally, Keep Slidell Beautiful will ride the parade route before each parade, passing out litter grabbers, trash bags, Pixie Dust biodegradable face glitter, recycled pencils, car litter bags, and t-shirts.
When: Friday, January 30 through Sunday, February 1 (see parade schedule)
Where: Slidell (view routes)
Learn more: Contact [email protected].
Keep West Monroe Beautiful
Initiative: Keep West Monroe Beautiful will recycle beads this year. The recycled beads will be given to Ouachita Parish 4-H.
When: Beads can be dropped off from January 8 to February 17.
Where: West Monroe City Hall, the West Monroe Recycling Center, and Alley Park in Downtown West Monroe
Learn more: Contact [email protected].
Louisiana Bayou Society in Lafayette
Initiative: Louisiana Bayou Society will be partnering with Osprey Initiative to assist with litter mitigation and recycling services during two major Mardi Gras parades in Lafayette, Louisiana: Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parade and Krewe of Bonaparte Parade. They are not seeking volunteers. Paid work opportunities are available until filled.
When: Saturday, February 7 and 14
Where: Downtown Lafayette to Cajun Field
Learn more: Contact [email protected] and visit the Louisiana Bayou Society Facebook page.
RecycleDAT! in New Orleans
Initiative: RecycleDAT! is a parade recycling project working to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills during Carnival Season. This Carnival Season, Grounds Krewe is again collaborating with sponsors and partners on Recycle Dat! – an initiative to promote a more sustainable Mardi Gras. Members of the public can expect to see recycling stations and bins along the Uptown Parade route during the two main Mardi Gras weekends, as well as other programming throughout the city.
When: Various dates in February (see parade schedule)
Where: Uptown parade route; programming will be occurring throughout the city
Learn more: Visit this website to learn more and get involved.
