New Orleans Mardi Gras may be one of the greatest celebrations around the world, but did you know historically the "success" of a carneval season has been gauged by the total weight of all the trash collected? So more trash = success? We aren't ready to accept this. We can do better for our kids and for our environment. Please support this petition and sign to be sent to Mayors Office and the City Council for change.

By the numbers....

46 TONS of beads in New Orleans storm drains.

1200-1300 tons of waste collected the past two Mardi Gras seasons that goes to the landfill and leaks into our ground water.

1) We need a recycling strategy at the end of each parade. From the throws made to the cans and plastic leftover from the crowd. These items have no business going to a landfill. We have groups like YLC, ARCGNO, the Trashformers in krewedelusion and businesses like Avenue Pub already recycling and we need more action from the city.

2) The 25 million pounds of plastic beads thrown every year are toxic and full of lead. This is not okay for any of us, especially our children. The plastic and toxins will also leach into the water, soil, streets, etc. over time with weathering. Atlas Beads (and other companies that use non-toxic plastic and even algae based beads) are great examples of how beads can be made environmentally friendly. We could truly transform the New Orleans economy with a strategic adjustment. Please, remove toxic plastic beads from Mardi Gras.

How Toxic beads are made​

What are mardi gras beads?