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With Mardi Gras parades come beads and throws. Right here’s what to do with all these beads when the season is over.

ArcGNO, a nonprofit that works with individuals of all mental disabilities, affords plenty of places the place beads could be donated. Additionally they have partnerships with plenty of organizations, making it simpler than ever to donate these beads to an excellent trigger.

French Quarter Administration District (FGMD) is working with 15 motels within the French Quarter and Downtown on a bead recycling program to supply free bead recycling companies. Glass Half Full is facilitating this system and beads might be donated to ArcGNO. Bins might be out there at taking part motels, together with Resort Monteleone, The Royal Sonesta New Orleans and Ritz Carlton, till March 10, 2025.

“In 2024, FQMD’s bead recycling program collected 3,346 kilos of beads. This yr, we’ve proudly doubled the variety of motels taking part in this system and aiding in our recycling efforts,” FQMD Government Director Michelle Courseault mentioned in a information launch. Resort house owners or workers members interested by bringing the FQMD’s bead recycling program to their enterprise can e-mail [email protected] or go to glasshalffull.co/mardi.

The Audubon Nature Institute has partnered with Arc of Higher to gather beads by way of bead assortment packing containers exterior each the Audubon Zoo and at Audubon Louisiana Nature Middle. In keeping with the Audubon Nature Institute web site, Audubon recycled greater than two tons of beads final yr. An estimated 25 million kilos of beads is at parades every year.