Where to recycle Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans

Hope you survived Mardi Gras. You probably have a house full of glitter and beads now. We sure do. Before you throw away your loot, consider your other options, such as DIY projects and recycling.

Looks for these purple and gold bead recycling bins around the metro area.  Arc of New Orleans will recycle your Mardi Gras beads and throws.  (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Looks for these purple and gold bead recycling bins around the metro area. Arc of New Orleans will recycle your Mardi Gras beads and throws. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Mardi Gras beads are a good way to add some flair to your house. One of our favorite DIY bead projects – medallion magnets. See that idea plus 23 other creative things to do with Mardi Gras beads here.

Just want all your Mardi Gras stuff gone fast? Consider donating it to Arc of New Orleans. This nonprofit uses your beads to help employ people intellectual disabilities and delays in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.

Look for the purple and gold Arc bins at these locations:

Continue reading

24 things to do with Mardi Gras beads

We have massive amounts of Mardi Gras beads in our house.

Our apartment is overflowing with Mardi Gras beads. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Our apartment is overflowing with Mardi Gras beads. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Beads, plush toys, cups, tridents, doubloons, chips, Muses shoe, Nyx purse. You name it, we got it (except for a coconut). But what do we do with the beads now?

We’ve asked our New Orleans friends and searched Pinterest for ideas. Voila – 24 things to do with Mardi Gras beads.

Continue reading