Preparing for a Cleaner, Greener Mardi Gras
Feb 19th, 2025
Posted in: Press ReleaseMardi Gras
- February 19, 2025 -
For Immediate Release
Preparing for a Cleaner, Greener Mardi Gras
Mobile, Ala. — Carnival Season brings thousands of revelers downtown to enjoy parades, balls, and other festivities. It also brings thousands of pounds of trash, most of which ends up on our streets and sidewalks, and far too much of which enters the storm drains and eventually our waterways.
A few years ago, several organizations, including Alabama Coastal Foundation, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Downtown Mobile Alliance, Keep Mobile Beautiful, and the City of Mobile, came together to create the Cleaner, Greener LoDa initiative to combat litter and reduce the use of plastic in our city center. One ongoing focus has been reducing litter generated during Mardi Gras parades.
Cleaning crews with the City of Mobile have long followed behind the parades to clear the streets and sidewalks of trash and, in recent years, new recycling efforts have been added as well. Last year, more than 11,000 pounds of recyclables were collected along the routes, including 1,574 pounds of beads alone.
As always, City of Mobile crews will be out in full force this Carnival Season, but Mobilians, visitors and local businesses can still help by taking some of the following steps:
- Dispose of garbage in the designated purple garbage carts throughout downtown
- Deposit aluminum, paper, plastic, and beads in the recycling bins in Bienville Square and Cathedral Square
- Place a trash can or recycle bin in front of your downtown business
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“Say No to the Glow.” This is a new effort to eliminate the plastic glow sticks regularly thrown from Carnival floats. These plastic sticks can clog the street sweepers and create environmental issues
Representatives from the organizations behind the Cleaner, Greener LoDa initiative are available for interviews. Please contact Dale Liesch or Carol Hunter for scheduling or additional information.
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Dale Liesch Media Relations Manager (251) 508-8532 |
Carol Hunter Communications Director (251) 604-5936 |