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Fat TuesdayThe party does not stop after the grease on Tuesday-No for pearls, at least. Some are brought back home as festivities, others are left hanging at rafters around the city, but many are not counted. Apparently, they are just ... .Disappear. But where?

Well, to know, it helps to look where the pearls come from. The film of 2005,Mardi Gras: Made in ChinaBy the prolific David Redmon of David, explores the life of the pearls of Tuesday Gras, starting with their birth in the Chinese plants, where the factory workers result in low wages and lower quality conditions. (As detailed redmon in an article forSmithsonianA girl reported a daily quota of 200 pearl necklaces.) Once shipped in the United States, more than 75% are sent directly to New Orleans - and that's where things are disordered.

Every year, aestimated 25 million pounds Plastic beads are dropped in the streets of the city. In January 2018, the health workers of New Orleans were shipped to clean up almost15,000 fouling catch basins, in which they found more than 46 tons (93,000 pounds, putting it in perspective) of the old beads of Mardi Gras.

Naturally, this raises environmental concerns.Dr. Howard Hielke, a researcher in the Department of the Pharmacology of the University of Tulane, is specifically concerned about the amount of lead of these pearls distributed in the streets of the city. Mielke has discovered that the majority of the high levels of lead in the city's soil are along the parade routes, where plastic beads tend to be thrown and thrown.

This puts a toll on local resources. In 2014, the city of New Orleans was forced to spendnearly $ 1.5 million On sanitation after celebrations to collect an eye on the eyes 1 758 tons of garbage cans - many solo cups and take-away containers in styrofère, yes, but also massive amounts of marks of Mardi Gras. And these pearls go directly to the dumps, what you may know - are alreadyUnfortunately too filled in the USA.

But it's not all bad news. The different groups are trapped at small steps to try to combat waste and environmental risks these tiny beads can cause.

Greater Arc of New OrleansAn organization that works with people with disabilities, has reused and recycle pearls for more than 20 years. In 2014, they sold aAverage of 120,000 pounds Recycled pearls - a number that checked only over the years. And, in partnership with the organization of last year, variousKrispy Kreme Sites In the city offered free donuts in exchange for recycled pearls.

Another organization,I Heart Louisiana, also tried to do their part by eliminating waste. Their solution?Create hand-made pearls Who incorporate the local aspects of the city, with the goal of getting more people to bring home their pearls and keep them in unique memories. In this way, more pearls are reused and less purchased every year just stay in the street.

Then, in February 2018, citizens of conscience went so far to launch thePetition Care2 Bank beads Mardi Gras. Currently, there has more than 15,000 signatures. Although the organizers of the petition are favorable to the celebration of Mardi Gras, they suggest less toxic and biodegradable alternatives instead of typical plastic beads. Incidentally, about the same time, the petition was launched, aProfessor of Biology of the University of Louisiana StateNaohiro Kato, created biodegradable pearls Mardi Grass made entirely out of large quantities of microscopic algae.

And then there are artistic alternatives. Collaborative costumeKrewe of the flowers Dresses in home-made flower costumes every year and deserves "seed beads" that can be reused to grow tiny gardens. And New OrleansArtist Stephan Wanger Started created massive mosaics from old pearls recycled in 2007. (A room used more than 2 million pearls!)

Finally, the city is alsodo one's share. Last year, officials have set up pearl recycling stations along some of the parade roads, shipped volunteers to collect unwanted pearls, and even install "gutter buddies" to temporarily block the wholesale Objects of fouling rain drains, while always allowing water to flow. Between citizen efforts and government intervention, 2019 develops to be the most environmentally friendly Tuesday. And for more information on this Wacky weekend, learn everything on the 15 Strange rituals Tuesday Gras .

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