Marigny Green News

Be Part of The Solution, Help Reduce Stormwater Impact

A very long time ago, the New Orleans area had cypress and hardwood forest protecting the wetlands, bayous and lakes.  Over many centuries, people altered these areas into an urban landscape of roads, parking lots and buildings. This caused the land to subside, draining water out of  the soil and diminished the cypress and hardwood forest that once helped protect New Orleans.  Now, even in normal rain there is a threat of flooding.

Storm water runoff carries pollutants into local waterways such as rivers, lakes and streams eventually making its way into the oceans. 

Storm water runoff can cause erosion by displacing the soil.            

Storm water runoff can cause localized flooding when storm drains take on too much water at once.  

As New Orleanians we are hyper sensitive to rising water. However, every resident of New Orleans can help make a difference in the volume of water that rain drops onto one’s property.  Just like it sounds, storm water is any precipitation that falls from the sky to include rain, hail and snow. In a natural landscape, storm water is absorbed into the ground or bodies of water. It gives plants and animals water. An urban landscape is different because storm water falls onto a surface that does not absorb water resulting in runoff. 

How can residents’ work with Nature rather than against it?  There are several simple steps you can do to help the efficiency of our drainage system, reduce damage to your property and benefit the environment. 

Simple Steps:

1.  Know where the water enters and leaves your property.

2.  Examine the roof – how is rainwater collected and removed from the roof.  

3.  Gutters are very important and need to be cleaned from falling leaves and debris.

4.  If you have an  area around your perimeter of your house, build a simple gravel bed to create an infiltration zone.  This allows water to collect and diffuse gently into the soil.  Make sure the gravel beds are wide enough to keep plants away from your home.  

5.  The yard is a great place to control and filter stormwater that helps reduce the demand on public drainage.  A rain garden with native plants can briefly hold the water, cleaning it from pollutants and allow the water to drain slowly into the public system.  It is wise not to use herbicides and pesticides.

6.  Mature trees are another way to add water capacity (can capture hundred gallons of water daily). Trees are also good for shade that can help reduce summer utility bills and add beauty to your property.  Do consider trees that are appropriate for the area.

7.  If you are redoing your sidewalk, patio and driveway, consider using porous materials that allow water to nourish the soil and reduce runoff.  An incentive program of the urban conservancy response to excessive yard paving is available.  For information on this front yard initiative program go to http.//www.urbanconservancy.org/project/fyi/   

8. Planter boxes filled with plants can absorb large amounts of water.  It is suggested to place the planter boxes directly below the edge of the roof to catch runoff. 

9.  Rain barrels temporarily store water runoff from the roof that can prevent water collecting on your property or in the street.  The non-potable water from the rain barrel is good for the garden.

Reference and more information -  LSU AgCenter: http://Isuagcenter.com  

                       IT IS IMPORTANT

Always keep the Catch-Basin on your street clean! 

Marigny Green News     Curbside Recycling Might be Trashed!

“A city of New Orleans initiative to expand residential recycling citywide might be dead in the water — despite the fact that the city has more than $5 million in financial backing from the Environmental Protection Agency and a national nonprofit”. Unfortunately, only half of the residents in the city have opt into the curbside recycling. A partnership between the NOLA Department of Sanitation and the Office of Resilience and Sustainability provides recycling carts to all single and small multi-family residences. New Orleans was awarded federal money in 2023 to expand the recycling initiative.

“The city was planning to purchase 83,000 recycling carts and educational materials from a contractor at a proposed maximum cost of $4.7 million with $3.3 million of that reimbursable by the EPA. The other $1.4 million would have been provided by matching funds from The Recycling Partnership. But a proposed contract, with supplier Rehrig Pacific Company, would need council approval to move forward.”

Julia Zuckerman, the legislative director for JP Morrell said, “Due to the City’s current budget constraints, we cannot afford to move forward on the EPA grant,” and “No matching funds can be allocated to this grant from the General Fund.”

As for the cost of collecting, expanded recycling will not affect the cost of servicing locations through sanitation contracts. According to the existing city trash and recycling contracts, waste haulers are currently paid to collect recycling based on all “eligible locations” in their service areas, rather than the actual number of households already opted into recycling.

There is a deadline and what happens if the city does not approve the grants and spends the money? Millions of dollars in federal funds will be forfeited.  

New Orleans’ 2022 climate Action Plan developed a solid waste master plan to divert waste from landfills. It is noted the expansion of recycling has support from then John Bel Edward, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, U.S. Rep Troy Carter and other local economic and environmental organizations.

Mayor Helena Moreno in an interview on WWL-TV on February 11, 2026 suggested raising the city sanitation fee and/or eliminating curbside recycling to save the city approximately $12 million a year. Currently, there is no follow-up and/or no response on curbside recycling from Moreno, Morrell, EPA and Recycling Partnership.

What can you do?  Encourage you, your neighbors and friends to engage in curbside recycling. Contact City Council and the Mayor to support curbside recycling. Curbside recycling is important because it promotes environmental sustainability and community health, curbside recycling is important for the following reasons:

• Decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste disposal and manufacturing.
• Reduces landfill waste by diverting recyclable materials from trash.
• Saves energy in the production of new products from recycled materials.
• Conserves natural resources by reusing materials instead of extracting new ones.

Resource: Resource: An article written by Katie Jane Fernelius (February 25, 2026) Verite News

Can Mardi Gras go green this year?  Unfortunately, all this fun also leads to an equal amount of rubbish. It's estimated that Mardi Gras creates around 1,000 tons of waste every year. In 2018, 93,000lb of plastic beads were found clogging up the city's sewer system, a dire situation in a city that lies partially below sea level and whose sewer systems are needed to keep the city dry. The city's Department of Sanitation does an almost miraculous job of cleaning the streets between parades, refuse still makes its way into the waterways in and around the city, posing a threat to both wildlife and people. 

A coalition of grassroots organizations and individual "krewes", the local groups responsible for putting on the Mardi Gras parades, are attempting a transformation with the help of the city and some supportive sponsors. From massive recycling projects to biodegradable throws, New Orleans is doing its best to clean up its act.

The coalition of organizations, volunteers and sponsors that make up the Recycle Dat Initiative are working to help Mardi Gras, and the city of New Orleans, maintain both its traditions and the environment for years to come.

Started three years ago by Davis, Recycle Dat began as a handful of local volunteers with small recycling stations set up along the St Charles parade route, but has expanded exponentially since then, offering an alternative to the efficient, but less meticulous clean up done by the Department of Sanitation, which sends everything they capture to the landfill. Now with a new larger, more visible set up, they expect those numbers to be even larger. This year, the program launched Recycle World, an interactive recycling station on St Charles and Louisiana Avenues where festival goers can drop off their unwanted throws and rubbish, volunteer to help sort cans, bottles and throws for recycling. Grounds Krewe are also instrumental in making sure alternatives to plastic beads are available to krewes during the season. The organization offers a variety of sustainable throws, including jambalaya mix, soap and biodegradable glitter, to name just a few – all of which can be individually branded according to the krewe's themes.

The Krewe of Freret, the first Mardi Gras parade to completely outlaw plastic throws, is ready to roll, kicking off a party that is both one of the most beloved and one of the most environmentally damaging festivals in New Orleans. The movement is gaining momentum and other Krewes such as  Krewe of Muses, Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Rex have sustainable throws. 

Green or not, no one wants to see the end of Mardi Gras throws. There is a widespread interest in creative sustainable throws from glass beads, local art, food, books and useful items. Start thinking," Throw me something sustainable" and Happy Mardi Gras ,

Resources: Lynn Brown- BBC, Matt Bloom 

Marigny Green News

The official Mardi Gras season in New Orleans began on January 6 (Twelfth Night) and will have parades in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, March 4, 2025. The krewes of these parades throw approximately twenty-five million pounds of plastic beads to the spectators. These plastic Mardi Gras beads are toxic  have become solid waste, clogging storms drains, littering the streets and polluting local rivers and the Gulf of Mexico.

A New Orleans grassroots organization founded in 2011 by residents called Verdi Gras’ goal is to reduce Mardi Gras’ waste pollution(www.verdigras.org). “Their mission  is an organization dedicated to preserving Louisiana culture through the conservation of our local resources and strive for a greener and cleaner Mardi Gras”

Some parades Krewes started looking for more creative options for Mardi Gras throws. In 2018, Brett Davis formed the non-profit Ground Krewe a 501c (3) mission is “Driven to provide throws that are the most sustainable, non-toxic and fairly made possible without commercial branding and advertising.” Grounds Krewe has a catalog  (https://www.groundskrewe.org/throw-catalo) of sustainable throws and some examples are small bags of red bean, jambalaya mix, recycle pencils, toothbrush sets and recycled plastic cups.

Hopefully, this year you will be catching non-toxic, biodegradable throws. As they say, “they still glitter, cause less litter and contain non flame retardants.”

Side Note: If you do catch plastic Mardi Gras beads, do not allow children or adults to put them in their mouths, and always wash hands after touching. Consider bringing baby wipes to parades to wipe children's hands after catching and playing with beads and before eating according to https://www.ecocenter.org/mardi-gras-beads-toxic-legacyide

It is the season to be jolly, eat, have fun and recycle your Christmas tree.  Keep your  up till the beginning of January so you can recycle your Christmas tree for wetlands restoration. The National Christmas Tree Association estimates that the United States sells between 25 and 30 million real Christmas trees each year. The good news is that 93% of the consumers who have real Christmas trees recycle them in some type of community program

Louisiana for the past 25 years has been losing wetlands at an alarming rate of 16.57 square miles a year. With the loss of funding from the state's budget in 1991, the program has been continued by some parishes on their own dime. The City of New Orleans’ office of Resilience and Sustainability funds the city’s Christmas Tree recycling Program. The program is a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Army national Guard. This program recycles the trees and educates the public of the plight of our wetlands and their importance.   The construction of a Christmas barrier   helps limit the impact of wave action and prevent erosion. Branches and leaves of trees help keep sediment in place like sea oats on beaches. 

For over twenty-five years, the New Orleans Christmas Tree Recycling Program has contributed to the restoration of Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Besides protecting the wetlands these trees are kept out of the landfill. Samantha Carter, Outreach Manager, Gulf Program, National Wildlife Federation  stated, this is a great way for communities to get involved in restoring the coast while protecting and restoring our natural resources and defenses.

To Volunteer

• Volunteers, 18 years or older are needed to put trees along the coastal areas
• It is recommended that you wear layered clothing, long pants, closed-toe sturdy shoes, hats, sunscreen, and gloves.
• Dates of pick-up will be scheduled closer to the holidays and broadcast on television, on the internet and in the local newspaper.  Trees must be natural and striped of all ornaments, tinsel, light and tree stand.

                     Contact 504-658-4071 for additional information

 Happy Holidays,

Marigny Green

Resource:  https://nola.gov/next/resilience-sustainability/programs/christmas-tree-recycling/

You can hear the music at this wonderful Mardi Gras art box by Linda LeBoeuf.  This box was created thanks to funding from the Faubourg Marigny Neighborhood Association.

We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of FMIA Parks and Parkways Committee Chair, Phillip Lege, for organizing this project and seeing it through to fruition.  Thank you, Phillip!

Marigny Green News

What to do with Mardi Gras Beads and Throws

Mardi Gras is over and you want to discard your beads and throws and instead of putting them in the closet and forgetting them, why not recycling!

Stuffed Animals

All those stuffed animals you just caught in the past 2 weeks are now piled in your corner. The ones with krewe names and dates are very hard to re-sell. Consider dropping them off at a local pet shelter. A homeless pup would love a little something to snuggle with.

Another suggestion: find a local women’s and children’s shelter that can use them.

ArcGNO will always take them off your hands too.

Mardi Gras Cups

Caught more cups than you need? Well, don’t throw them into your recycling bin. They won’t be recycled – they will only be sorted and then sent to a landfill. Here’s our suggestions: donate them to ArcGNO or find a local art studio that needs them! Lots of artists use the cups for their paint brushes. 

Mardi Gras Beads

If you’re real crafty, you can upcycle the beads into future costumes and wreaths. If crafting isn’t your game, then you need to donate them to ArcGNO. ArcGNO takes your unwanted Mardi Gras throws and turns them into jobs. They employ people with intellectual disabilities to sort through, repackage, and resell your discarded throws. With locations ALL over the metro area, there is no reason you can’t drop them off.

Here is a list of all their drop off sites: (Check to see if these sites are still available)

• Metairie Community Center – 925 Labarre Rd, Metairie, LA 70001
• Uptown Community Center – 1771 Nashville Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
• Chalmette Community Center – 3700 Jean Lafitte Pkwy., Chalmette
• Northshore Community Center – 106 East 25th Ave, Covington, LA 70433

Uptown

• Audubon Zoo – 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
• Touro Synagogue – 4238 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
• Loyola University at Biever Hall and Carrollton Hall – 6363 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
• Whole Foods – 5600 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
• ArcGNO Uptown Community Center – 1771 Nashville Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
• Latter Branch Public Library – 5120 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
• Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center – 4300 S Broad Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125
• Children’s Resource Center Library – 913 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

New Orleans East

• East New Orleans Public Library – 5641 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
• Audubon Louisiana Nature Center – 11000 Lake Forest Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
• Magnolia Physical Therapy – 2372 St. Claude Ave, Ste 104 New Orleans, LA 70117
• The Green Project – 7243, 2831 Marais St, New Orleans, LA 70117
• Alvar Library – 913 Alvar St, New Orleans, LA 70117

Mid-City

• Norman Mayer Library – 3001 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70122

Metairie

• Rouses – 2701 Airline Dr, Metairie, LA 70001
• Jefferson Parish Library – East Bank Regional Library – 4747 West Napoleon Ave. Metairie, LA 70001
• Lafreniere Park – Near the Carousel – 3000 Downs Blvd, Metairie, LA 70003
• ArcGNO Metairie Community Center – 925 Labarre Rd, Metairie, LA 70001

Lakeview

• Robert E. Smith Public Library – 6301 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124

Westbank

• Jefferson Parish Library – West Bank Regional Library – 2751 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey, LA 70058
• ArcGNO Westwego Community Center – 333 Sala Ave, Westwego, LA 70094
• Algiers Regional Library – 3014 Holiday Dr, New Orleans, LA 70131
• Cita Dennis Hubbell Branch Library – 725 Pelican Ave, New Orleans, LA 70114

Reference:  POSTED BY LESLIE HEINDEL  

Be a good New Orleanian and don’t throw them in the trash! 

It's the season to have a good time which means lots of street activities. This year on the parade route Glass Half Full and Glassroots are partnering with the City and a number of of local non-profits to make Mardi Grass more eco-friendly. During the first and second weekend of Mardi Gras (February 11th & 12th and February 18th & 19th), we will be providing recycling for glass, bead and aluminum cans.

   Recycling your holiday tree help the Louisiana's coastline. For information go to @nolareadyandresilient-nola

  Saturday, November 12, 2022 8:30- 12pm

Department of Parks and Parkways

1 Green Parade Lane NOLA 70122

The Big TREEsy giveaways are for Orleans Parish residents only, one free tree per household and Orleans Parish photo ID is required. There are a lot of trees available and for more information go to @nolatreeprojects.org