NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Building off the success of the previous two-years, Young Leadership Council launches its 2020 Mardi Gras Recycling Initiative led by YLC Recycles volunteer project leaders. In partnership with Krewe du Vieux, the Krewe of Cleopatra, and the City of New Orleans Department of Sanitation, the initiative’s goal is to reduce waste and increase recycling opportunities both on-float and for parade-goers.
The initiative will provide recycling services during two Mardi Gras parades of 2020: Krewe du Vieux on Saturday, February 8, and the Krewe of Cleopatra on Friday, February 14. Krewe du Vieux will have recycling stations set-up along the routes with volunteers assisting parade-goers and the opportunity for those in a tent or home along the parade route can request a recycling station for their party. Captains from Krewe du Vieux, one of the city’s most audacious parades, says “Please Recycle” to their attendees this upcoming weekend.
The Krewe of Cleopatra is partnering with YLC Recycles to provide sustainability consulting prior to the parade and will have an opportunity for volunteers to help the Krewe in this effort. This strategy is a revamping of previous strategies to focus our resources and capacity in order to tackle waste at all levels, from where it’s produced and where it’s found.
“The Krewe of Cleopatra is proud to lead the way as the first krewe to provide on-float recycling,” says Captain of the Krewe of Cleopatra. “We are excited to partner with Young Leadership Council to provide this service for our riders. On-float recycling is just the first step in our Krewe’s plan to reduce negative environmental impacts while retaining the joy and spirit of Mardi Gras.”
The City of New Orleans estimates that at least 150 tons of garbage are collected by sanitation workers during a typical parade season. Beyond the city’s goal of reducing that number in 2020, the initiative’s organizers plan to document, measure, and refine the initiative to promote its widespread adoption by the city government.
“Making, and ensuring, Mardi Gras stays sustainable is YLC’s mission in action,” said Stephanie Powell, Executive Director of Young Leadership Council. “The volunteer project leaders of YLC Recycles are consistently evaluating how to make recycling accessible and sustainable in New Orleans. Their continued efforts to improve the Mardi Gras Recycling Initiative is a testament to their forward-thinking and leadership as community needs evolve.”
