The Future of a Wasteful Mardi Gras Tradition

The first week of March, we traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate Mardi Gras with millions of others, and explore one tradition that has created a worsening problem over the years. Mardi Gras beads are strung together to become “throws” which are tossed from parade floats among other plastic trinkets and accessories. Most of the uncaught throws that accumulate in the streets are thrown into a landfill, a small portion are recycled, and many find their way into sewers along the parade routes. The mounting concern has inspired local organizations, scientists, and everyday people to take action.

ARC GNO is an organization that hires intellectually disabled people to help collect and sort Mardi Gras throws for their recycling program. For the past two years, ARC GNO has teamed up with The Young Leadership Council of New Orleans to recycle beads after a few selected parades, along with other recyclables like cans and plastic bottles.

Dr. Naohiro Kato is working to develop biodegradable Mardi Gras beads using microalgae. It is a challenging process, but this LSU plant biologist is determined to reduce the production costs for these beads and make them a feasible alternative for future Mardi Gras celebrations. See Dr. Kato’s full interview here.

Local Motives original score composed and produced by William Lindsay.