LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER ✦ RECYCLE DAT ✦ 171K LBS DIVERTED · EST. 2023 ✦ BEADS · BOTTLES · CANS ✦ VOLUNTEER FOR CARNIVAL 2027 ✦
Mardi Gras recycling · est. 2023

BEADS.
BOTTLES.
CANS.
PICKED UP OFF THE STREET.

RecycleDAT is a local initiative focused on diverting recyclable Mardi Gras waste — so the throws, the bottles, the cans, and the party all end up somewhere better than the storm drain or the landfill.

171K LBS DIVERTED ✦ 1.5M ITEMS RECOVERED ✦ EST. 2023 · 4 CARNIVALS DEEP ✦ ST. CHARLES AVE ✦ NAPOLEON → Harmony Circle✦ on the route. EVERY YEAR. ✦ LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER ✦
The program, by the numbers

171K

pounds diverted
cumulative · 2023→2026

1.5M

individual items
cans, bottles, beads

200+

staff & volunteers
each carnival season

15+

SUPPORTING ORGS
5 partners+ sponsors
HOW IT WORKS

From the throw
to the sort.

The Throws

A typical krewe throws thousands of pounds of beads per parade. Most of it ends up on the street. That's where we start.

Beads collected on a litter picker

The Route

We post up at eight stations along the Uptown route — Napoleon to Harmony Circle.

Volunteer with violin on St. Charles parade route

The Stations

Purple, green, and gold flag banners mark every stop. Clearly labeled: Beads · Bottles · Cans.

RecycleDAT flag banner and volunteer at parade station

The Crew

200+ volunteers and staff each season. Vests, pickers, bags — we provide all of it.

Volunteer crew with pickers held aloft

The Sort

Materials get weighed and routed to the right partner: Glass Half Full, ArcGNO, SMSS, EMR, Republic Recycling.

Three sorted recycling bins at a station

The Number

Every pound is logged, every total is published. Year four: 171,000 lbs diverted from landfill.

RecycleDAT station signage with diversion totals
Kid dropping a bottle into a RecycleDAT bin

Throw a party that will make our city proud.

We love Mardi Gras, but just want it to be a little greener.

We're here to make sure the party keeps going for the next fifty years — by creating a Mardi Gras that's less about waste and more about community, creativity, and fun. A coalition of local organizations, 200+ volunteers and staff every season, eight stations on the route, and one mission: throw a party that we will make our City proud. 

Read the full story →
As residents and visitors continue to prioritize sustainable practices, we want to ensure New Orleans is leading the way.
— WALT LEGER III · PRESIDENT & CEO, NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

How you can help.

Volunteer.

Join us on the route to get in on the action! Who says a party can't have a positive impact?

Sign up →

Donate.

$20 buys a pair of pickers. $100 stocks a station for a parade. Every dollar is tax-deductible through Grounds Krewe NOLA Inc.

Give now →

Host a station.

Got a stoop, storefront, or driveway on the route? Lend us 20 sq ft for the parade. We bring the bins, you get the foot traffic.

Host us →

Sponsor / partner.

Krewes, brands, and orgs that want to back the program. Sponsorship covers signage, vests, the shop. We'll write you a thank-you.

Partner up →
— the coalition · 5 core partners + supporting orgs —
Core operating partners
Grounds Krewe Glass Half Full The Osprey Initiative New Orleans & Company CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
Sponsors & supporting orgs
Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Every Can Counts Entergy
Tulane University Keep Louisiana Beautiful Louisiana Beverage Association Krewe of Iris TASC EMR Metal Recycling
CARNIVAL 2027

COME WALK WITH US.

Volunteer → Donate Host a station