Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced the return of Recycle Dat during the two major weekends of Mardi Gras 2024 to further promote sustainability efforts. This initiative is spearheaded by NOLA Ready, the Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS), New Orleans & Company, Grounds Krewe, Every Can Counts, Glass Half Full, ARC of Greater New Orleans and other community partners, with a total of 25 participating organizations. 

"While Mardi Gras is meant to be a time of celebration and indulgence, it does not mean we cannot make the season healthier for our environment as well,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “With 1,500 pounds of glass, 50,000 cans and 11,535 pounds of Mardi Gras beads and throws recycled through last year's pilot program, Recycle Dat! has become an international model for mitigating plastic contamination and decarbonization, as aligned with our Climate Action Plan. The efforts of NOLA Ready, the Office of Resilience and Sustainability, New Orleans & Company and all our community partners to create a more sustainable Mardi Gras culture are truly unmatched. We could not achieve this goal without all of our partners, our dedicated volunteers and the residents willing to take the extra step to recycle while having fun."     

Residents can do their part by taking advantage of the following recycling options: 

• Recycle Dat will operate both “Recycling Hubs” and “Can Stations;” a map of all Recycle Dat recycling locations along the St. Charles parade route is available on NOLA Ready’s website 
• Six stationary “Recycling Hubs” for cans, beads and glass collection between Napoleon Avenue & Prytania Street and Harmony Circle & St. Charles Avenue 
• Volunteers will distribute bead collection bags ahead of the first Uptown day parade on Saturday, Feb. 3; Sunday, Feb. 4; Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11 
• On Thursday, Feb. 8, REALCYCLE will launch a nighttime pilot pickup program for aluminum cans along the uptown parade route between Napoleon and Jackson Avenues. Parade goers can give cans to REALCYCLE employees in vests on the route that evening or drop off materials at aluminum can recycling stations on the neutral ground side of the street. 
• At the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Mardi Gras ball attendees should look out for recycling stations that will collect empty aluminum beverage cans and plastic bottles, plus staff will be doing a bead recycling pilot program

"The Recycle Dat project is one of several current and upcoming initiatives from the City to make recycling easier and more visible for residents and visitors,” said ORS Deputy Chief Resilience Officer Greg Nichols. “Increasing our public education and infrastructure for waste diversion is a major component of our city's Climate Action Plan, which sets our path to a net-zero carbon emissions future. Keeping waste out of our streets and drainage systems also keeps our drainage systems operational after the festivities. We are thankful to the many partners and financial supporters for this project across business, government, philanthropy and community groups to help make this year's Carnival season more sustainable." 

“This initiative is truly a collaborative, community-driven effort to make our Mardi Gras celebrations more eco-friendly, so that we can continue this spectacular event for generations,” said NOLA Ready Public Engagement Director Anna Nguyen. “To the residents who participate and our dedicated volunteers, thank you for helping us make this important program happen. This administration has prioritized adapting to our changing climate, and we will continue working with our community partners on innovative solutions like this.”  

“We are pleased to be an integral part of this program making Mardi Gras and our community more sustainable,” said President and CEO of New Orleans & Company Walter J. Leger III. “The growing list of organizations working together in this initiative contributes to how New Orleans is becoming a more innovative city for our locals and visitors. Travelers today increasingly choose cities to visit based on their environmentally friendly practices. We believe that the things that make New Orleans a great place to live and visit also make it more attractive to visitor and Recycle Dat is a perfect example.”   

All empty aluminum beverage cans collected along the Uptown parade route will be driven to the EMR Metal Recycling Mid-City location (2525 Lafitte Street), which will pay market rate for the cans and then the revenue generated will be given to three local charities – Pontchartrain Conservancy, Zeus’ Rescues and NOLA Cans 4 Food - with Every Can Counts U.S. doubling the money raised along the route up to the first $5,000.   

In addition to cans collected along the parade route, community members are encouraged to bring empty beverage cans to the EMR Metal Recycling Mid-City location between Feb. 1-15. Separate from the route matching funds, Every Can Counts U.S. will be doubling the funds up to the first $5,000 for those that choose to donate to one of the three local charities. People bringing cans may also opt for a personal check.  

Other sponsors of this initiative include Greater New Orleans Foundation, Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Entergy, EMR Metal Recycling and Louisiana Beverage Association. 

During the 2023 Carnival Season, the City recycled 1,475 pounds of aluminum (roughly 50,000 cans), 1,500 pounds of glass and 11,535 pounds of Mardi Gras beads and throws with the help of the Recycle Dat partners. 

Original source can be found here.