Can Mardi Gras go green this year? Unfortunately, all this fun also leads to an equal amount of rubbish. It's estimated that Mardi Gras creates around 1,000 tons of waste every year. In 2018, 93,000lb of plastic beads were found clogging up the city's sewer system, a dire situation in a city that lies partially below sea level and whose sewer systems are needed to keep the city dry. The city's Department of Sanitation does an almost miraculous job of cleaning the streets between parades, refuse still makes its way into the waterways in and around the city, posing a threat to both wildlife and people.
A coalition of grassroots organizations and individual "krewes", the local groups responsible for putting on the Mardi Gras parades, are attempting a transformation with the help of the city and some supportive sponsors. From massive recycling projects to biodegradable throws, New Orleans is doing its best to clean up its act.
The coalition of organizations, volunteers and sponsors that make up the Recycle Dat Initiative are working to help Mardi Gras, and the city of New Orleans, maintain both its traditions and the environment for years to come.
Started three years ago by Davis, Recycle Dat began as a handful of local volunteers with small recycling stations set up along the St Charles parade route, but has expanded exponentially since then, offering an alternative to the efficient, but less meticulous clean up done by the Department of Sanitation, which sends everything they capture to the landfill. Now with a new larger, more visible set up, they expect those numbers to be even larger. This year, the program launched Recycle World, an interactive recycling station on St Charles and Louisiana Avenues where festival goers can drop off their unwanted throws and rubbish, volunteer to help sort cans, bottles and throws for recycling. Grounds Krewe are also instrumental in making sure alternatives to plastic beads are available to krewes during the season. The organization offers a variety of sustainable throws, including jambalaya mix, soap and biodegradable glitter, to name just a few – all of which can be individually branded according to the krewe's themes.
The Krewe of Freret, the first Mardi Gras parade to completely outlaw plastic throws, is ready to roll, kicking off a party that is both one of the most beloved and one of the most environmentally damaging festivals in New Orleans. The movement is gaining momentum and other Krewes such as Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Rex have sustainable throws.
Green or not, no one wants to see the end of Mardi Gras throws. There is a widespread interest in creative sustainable throws from glass beads, local art, food, books and useful items. Start thinking," Throw me something sustainable" and Happy Mardi Gras ,
Resources: Lynn Brown- BBC, Matt Bloom
