From small-batch glass Mardi Gras beads to recycling stations along the parade route, a cohort of local groups have been hard at work to put a dent in Carnival’s epic waste problem. This year, the group of nonprofits, aided by a partnership with the city and money from Entergy, recycled more than 61,000 pounds of beer bottles, empty cans, Mardi Gras beads and other materials from the festivities. That’s roughly 28 tons, or the weight of seven large female African elephants.
The fourth year of the RecycleDat! initiative boasted record-high numbers of recycled cans and bottles, though the total weight of the recycled material dipped from last year. The coalition recycled less glass and fewer throws compared to 2025, which accounted for the overall change.
Over the two parade weekends, the recyclers collected nearly 200,000 cans and more than 75,000 plastic bottles, far exceeding the figures from last year. Last year, the group recycled less than 130,000 cans and less than 25,000 plastic bottles. In contrast, the organizations saw a decrease of around 5,000 pounds of beads and throws.