Vanessa Bolano WGNO News

January 26, 2012
Metairie—

Carnival parades will kick into high gear soon leaving millions of beads behind! With all that plastic, Mardi Gras is not exactly an eco-friendly event. Vanessa Bolano shows you one group that's making a dent  in the multi-colored debris!

At the Arc facility in Metairie Carnival season is never out of season. Year round, volunteers and adults with disabilities sort through countless beads, separating each strand one by one, and selling them back. It all starts with you!

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Executive Director of The Arc of Greater New Orleans Cliff Doescher says, “We  have recycle bins at libraries, at Rouses, at other businesses along the way, and also people just drop them off.”

Recycling Coordinator Margie Perez says, “More people are finding out about us and so we are getting more donations. In the middle of August when no one is thinking about Mardi Gras we still have to empty out or bins at least once a week.”

“Even though we recycle tons and tons of beads each year, it's really just a small fraction of what's out there,” says Doescher.

Each year 2,000,000 pounds of beads are sent to New Orleans from China and at Arc they're doing their best to keep the beads out of landfills.

“People are finding out about us more and more and they're becoming conscious of the need for recycling,” says Perez.

Last year Arc sorted through and sold 100,000lbs of beads, and this year they plan to break that record selling 150,000lbs.

For their countless hours of work Arc adults are paid minimum wage. It’s a tedious job, a wonderful sound;  all reminding us Mardi Gras is always right around the corner.

Arc's Mardi Gras bead sale starts Saturday, January 28 at 925 S. Labarre Rd., Metairie. 30lbs bags range in price from $20 to $35. Arc also sells recycled stuffed animals, specialty beads and other throws.

For more information call 504.837-5105.