Mardi Gras season has come to an end—leaving behind another successful year of fantastic floats, magnificent music, energetic atmospheres, and most especially, bags and bags overflowing with beads. If you’re like me, you’ve looked at your piles of beads and wondered where you are going to store them all. Let’s be real, you save your favorites from that year and the rest, well, they get tossed in the trash. 

This year, consider donating your unwanted beads to donation centers. There are centers all throughout New Orleans that specifically collect unwanted beads and throws, where they can then sort through, repackage, and put them towards good use for next year’s festivities. Check out the following centers and what steps to take when donating your beads.

ArcGNO Mardi Gras Recycle Center 

As one of the biggest centers in the New Orleans area, ArcGNO will collect your beads at the following drop-off locations (Check in advance for drop-off hours before making your trip): 

  • Whole Foods Market on 5600 Magazine St. 
  • New Orleans Sanitation Department on 2829 Elysian Fields Ave. 
  • Jefferson Parish Sanitation at 400 David Dr., Metairie & 6440 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero 
  • ArcGNO Metairie on 9 925 Labarre Rd., Metairie
  • ArcGNO Westwego Community Center on 333 Sala Ave., Westwego 
  • ArcGNO Chalmette Community Center on 3700 Jean Lafitte Pkwy., Chalmette 
  • ArcGNO Northshore Community Center on 2810 8th St., Mandeville

Fun Fact: Reach out to ArcGNO to set up your own collection bins to host your own drives. 

Glass Half Full

Locate Mardi Gras bead recycling stations outside of 15+ French Quarter and downtown hotels, normally located around the lobby areas. The collected beads will be donated to ArcDNO. 

St. Michael Special School 

The Joy Activity Center’s Mardi Gras bead recycling program sorts and organizes through beads to sell back to Krewes and riders for a donation. Call (504) 522-8194 to learn more about the program. 

Please note that when donating your beads and other throws, centers ask that beads are cleaned and lightly-used.