New Orleans tests biodegradable Mardi Gras beads to combat 46 tons of drain-clogging plastic

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Travis Loller and Stephen Smith at The Associated Press is the basis of this artificial intelligence-assisted article.

Louisiana State University researchers have developed biodegradable, plantable Mardi Gras beads to address New Orleans’ massive plastic pollution problem, as the city works to reduce the 2.5 million pounds of trash generated during Carnival season.

Some key facts:

• The city of New Orleans found more than 46 tons of plastic Mardi Gras beads clogging storm drains after heavy flooding.

• LSU graduate student Alexis Strain developed “PlantMe Beads” that are 3-D printed from polylactic acid (PLA), a starch-based material.

• The biodegradable beads are large hollow spheres containing okra seeds that can be planted, with the okra attracting bacteria that help them decompose.

• The Krewe of Freret became the first major parading organization to ban cheap plastic beads from their parade in 2025.

• Three krewes are throwing biodegradable beads this year as part of a pilot program, with 3,000 PlantMe Bead necklaces produced for the 2026 Carnival season.

• Mardi Gras generates approximately 2.5 million pounds of trash annually in New Orleans.

• Plastic beads cause flooding by clogging storm drains, harming marine life when washed into Lake Pontchartrain.

• Professor Naohiro Kato first developed algae-based biodegradable beads in 2018, but production costs were too high for commercial viability.

READ MORE: Biodegradable Mardi Gras beads help make Carnival season more sustainable