Another Mardi Gras has passed and what most people have left to show for it is the vast amount of novel, plastic beads. They end up on the streets, hanging from trees and sometimes, for those with artistic ability, might even end up as unique decorations. The question then is, what does one do with all the left over parade beads? Instead of throwing them to the back of a closet, give them back to the community.

The plastic beads are not made to be processed at a recycling center, so the best way to recycle is to reuse. At OPTIONS, a local, private non-profit agency providing services to people with developmental disabilities, Mardi Gras beads are donated so they can be repackaged and sold for the next year’s Mardi Gras at a discounted price.

“The people with disabilities go through the beads, and then package them to sell,” said Katie Krause, development director at OPTIONS. “This year, the Krewe of Omega will be donating beads, and we encourage everyone else to bring in their leftover beads.”

“We don’t know any way to recycle beads except to use them in other parades,” said Joyce Smith, the captain of this year’s Krewe of Omega Parade. “So, we ask those who don’t want them to give them to OPTIONS.”

At the end of the Little Rascals Parade in Metairie this year, for the first time, the Arc of Greater New Orleans, a United Way Partner Agency that provides services to individuals with mental disabilities, had their own “Catch and Release” float. The float is intended for Mardi Gras revelers to throw their surplus beads into at the end of the parade. Nola.com reported that the float caught about 1,000 pounds of plastic beads.

There are also other creative ways to put old beads to use. On earth911.com, staff reporter Mary Mazzoni introduced a German artist by the name of Stephan Wanger. Wanger is the first to successfully create the world’s largest mosaic made entirely out of recycled Mardi Gras beads. It contains more than 1 million beads and is approximately 8 feet tall and 30 feet wide.  The piece will be auctioned off by the Make It Right foundation to raise money for the lower ninth ward in New Orleans.

Goodwill is also another option for donating Mardi Gras Beads.  Goodwill also repackages the beads to be sold again for parades in the future.  

For more information about donating leftover beads to OPTIONS call them at 985-345-6269, or email Katie Krause at [email protected].