More than 5K pounds of New Orleans Mardi Gras throws, waste to be recycled

Bella Dardano
·1 min read
1

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — As Mardi Gras season has come to an end, the cleanup process has begun.

Officials with the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center worked with Realcycle to recycle throws left over from carnival season.

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From the effort, more than 5,000 pounds of carnival waste was collected.

They said this included beads and signature throws from multiple krewes. The cleanup is designed to help reduce waste and symbolize the success of the season.

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    (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
  • (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
    (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
  • (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
    (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
  • (WGNO/Jeff Kent)
    (WGNO/Jeff Kent)

“It’s a special opportunity we have to change the way we measure the success of Mardi Gras, to be less about how much we’re wasting, and more about how much we are able to save. So, this opportunity here gives us a chance to change the way we think about Mardi Gras, change the way we think about the success of this big party,” said Realcycle Co-Owner Ryan Singer.

The reusable beads will be given a new life and donated to the nonprofit organization Arc of Greater New Orleans.

“We love to partner with Convention Center. These beads and these throws we get from carnival come back to our warehouse and will begin the sorting process. It allows people of intellectual, developmental disabilities to have jobs and training for other types of work in the community,” said Executive Director of Arc of Greater New Orleans Heather Mathews.

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