New Orleans, LA — The French Quarter Management District (FQMD) will provide 16 hotels in
the French Quarter with free bead recycling service this Mardi Gras. The recycling program, now
in its third year, will be facilitated by Glass Half Full (www.glasshalffull.co).
In 2025, 10,705 lbs. of Mardi Gras beads were collected, more than double the 3,346 lbs. collected in 2024.
All Mardi Gras beads collected by Glass Half Full will be donated to ArcGNO where
they will be sorted and repackaged, providing employment opportunities to people with
intellectual disabilities.
Over 10,000 lbs. collected in 2025
Bead recycling bins began appearing in hotel lobbies, floors and utility areas on Monday,
January 19th, 2026 (Mardi Gras concludes on Tuesday, February 17.) Each participating hotel will
host bead recycling stations and encourage guests to drop unwanted, lightly-used beads into 64-
gallon bins.
“The bead recycling partnership helps protect the historic streets, sidewalks, and
drainage infrastructure of the French Quarter by reducing post-Mardi Gras debris, ensuring that
one of Louisiana’s most treasured cultural districts remains clean, walkable and visually
intact,”said FQMD Executive Director Michelle Courseault.
Steve Caputo, General Manager of The Monteleone Hotel, welcomes the bead recycling
program. “For years, hotels had to develop systems to collect and dispose of all those left-over
Mardi Gras beads. I know I speak for our staff and, most likely our guests, when I say we all feel
better knowing the beads will not only be collected but recycled for a good cause,” he said.
During the season Glass Half Full may conduct as many as 10 pickups per day at
participating hotels. This year, the homegrown company will also collect and recycle cardboard
boxes discarded by riders after loading beads and other throws on floats.
Any hotel owner or staff member interested in bringing the FQMD’s bead recycling
program to their business should email pickups@glasshalffull.co or visit glasshalffull.co/mardi.
2026 Participants include:
- Bienville House
- Courtyard by Marriott – Downtown Near the French Quarter
- Courtyard Marriott Iberville French Quarter
- Hilton Riverside
- Hotel Monteleone
- Hotel Provincial
- Hotel de la Monnaie
- Hyatt Centric French Quarter
- La Galerie Hotel
- New Orleans Marriott at 555 Canal
- Ritz-Carlton
- Sheraton New Orleans
- The Royal Sonesta New Orleans
- The Saint
- The Westin New Orleans
- Wyndham New Orleans – French Quarter
In addition to bead recycling, FQMD provides year-round, weekly free glass, aluminum,
paper/cardboard, and plastic recycling at three different French Quarter drop off locations in
partnership with Glass Half Full.