BATON ROUGE, La. – As Louisiana celebrates Mardi Gras, Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser are encouraging residents and visitors to help reduce waste and litter during parades and festivities statewide.
“We love to celebrate Mardi Gras in Louisiana, but we must be mindful of the litter and waste we are creating,” Nungesser said. “Bring a bag for throws and a bag for your trash. Keeping trash off the ground should be everyone’s priority.”
KLB Executive Director Susan Russell said parade litter—including beads, plastic cups and other throws—can cause lasting harm to the environment. “Beads and other litter end up in our trees and in our storm drains,” Russell said. “They break down into smaller plastic pieces that can pollute our waterways, clog storm drains, and harm wildlife.”
During the 2023 carnival season, the City of New Orleans reported more than 1,162 tons of Mardi Gras waste sent to landfills in just 11 days. A 2018 cleanup revealed about 93,000 pounds of beads clogging New Orleans’ drainage system, underscoring the environmental cost of carnival celebrations.
KLB offered several recommendations for parade-goers:
- Bring bags for both throws and trash and dispose of items properly.
- Volunteer or organize post-Mardi Gras cleanups to prevent litter from entering waterways.
- Donate beads and throws to recycling programs such as ArcGNO Mardi Gras Recycle Center or Grounds Krewe collection sites.
Parade organizers and krewes are also encouraged to adopt sustainable practices outlined in KLB’s Greener Grounds Guidebook, developed with French Quarter Festivals, Inc. The guidebook provides practical waste-reduction strategies, such as sourcing reusable throws, assigning litter prevention ambassadors, and adopting parade policies that discourage non-throw debris.
KLB urges all outdoor event organizers to download the Greener Grounds Guidebook and Workbook for free at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org, where residents can also learn more about litter prevention programs or report illegal dumping by calling 855-LA-LITTER.