NEW ORLEANS — Every year during Carnival season, you catch tons of colorful beads and fun throws. Some of them end up on the ground or maybe you don't want all of that in your home. Two organizations are making it their mission to recycle those beads and give them life.
Our Whitney Miller explains.
We're not even 24 hours on this side of Mardi Gras and already the bins here at STARC in Mandeville are filled with beads that have been recycled to use again next year.
"We sell those back to the krewes. We sell them in crawfish sacks." Mark Baham is the executive director for STARC of Louisiana - an organization dedicated to helping bring opportunity to citizens with disabilities.
One of those programs is their yearly bead drop. Each year the beads are cleaned, sorted, and repackaged.
"It helps to teach our folks motor skills and also allows them to earn a paycheck."
Last year STARC sold out of all their recycled beads. Baham says knowing that makes Mardi Gras much more special.
“Krewe of Dionysus, they chose one of our participants every year to be their grand marshal. so, this year we had one of our folks Kevin, he was able to be the grand marshal for one of the large parades.”
But STARC is not alone. In New Orleans, the Morial Convention Center teamed up with the Arc of Greater New Orleans to recycle beads and throws from the super krewes that parade through the center during Carnival.
“We literally are recycling tons of Mardi Gras throws, aluminum cans, bottles you name it. Everything from the Endymion parade, Bacchus parade, and Orpheus parades.”
This year they are turning over roughly 5,400 pounds of throws. A number executive director Heather Matthews says means opportunity.
“This is a great opportunity for the beads to become jobs for the people in our community. To keep our community clean and to provide job training for people with intellectual disabilities.”
Looking to drop off your beads and throws, here's where to go:
- ADULT EAST 40201 Hwy 190 East, Slidell 70461
- ADULT WEST 1705 Viola Street, Mandeville 70448
The Arc accepts donations of beads, trinkets, and stuffed animals year round.
Orleans Parish
- The City’s Department of Sanitation
Collects beads at its Recycling Drop Off Center held on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue.
- Glass Half Full- 3935 Louisa St. (Mon/Wed/Sat only)
- New Orleans Public Library Locations
- All 14 New Orleans Public Library locations will be bead recycling sites for ArcGNO between Monday, January 29 until Friday, March 1 during normal operating hours.
- Find the nearest NOLA Library location HERE.
Jefferson Parish
- ArcGNO Metairie Community Center- 925 Labarre Rd., Metairie
- Jefferson Parish Sanitation Department - 400 David Dr., Metairie
- Jefferson Parish Sanitation (WestBank) - 6440 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero
Other Parishes
- ArcGNO Chalmette Community Center - 3700 Jean Lafitte Pkwy., Chalmette
- ArcGNO Northshore Community Center - 106 E. 25th Ave., Covington
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