Where to recycle Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans
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Several New Orleans organizations can help keep your Mardi Gras beads, stuffed animals and other throws out of landfills.
Why it matters: Mardi Gras leaves behind mountains of trash. Recycling cuts waste and supports local nonprofits.
The big picture: Most groups accept clean, dry throws.
- Leave wet beads and MoonPies at home.
💜 ArcGNO: Look for the purple rolling carts or use one of their year-round drop-off sites.
- The group collects more than 160 tons of throws annually. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities sort the items, which are resold to krewes.
♻️ St. Michael Special School: Students sort the donations and sell them back to krewes as a fundraiser.
✨ Strive Center: Porch drop-offs are available. Participants sort the items for resale.
🦁 Audubon Zoo: Bead collection boxes will be outside the zoo gates through Thursday. There's one at Audubon Louisiana Nature Center in the East, too.
🛒 Whole Foods Uptown: The purple Arc bin is in the parking garage.