LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) It’s a sight you can see at every Mardi Gras Parade, and its the staple of the season.

But there’s a petition circulating in New Orleans seeking to ban Mardi Gras beads. 

The petition states that the beads are wasteful and can cause pollution.  In fact, 46 tons of beads were recently pulled from the clogged catch basins in the Big Easy.

The petition also states that plastic beads are quote, ‘trashy’ and filled with toxic chemicals, which if swallowed by a child, could be harmful.

But people in Lafayette disagree with this petition. 

So I came to Downtown Lafayette to talk with people about what they think about the petition. 

Beads are the entire purpose of Mardi Gras. I mean it’s a tradition! How are you going to take the beads out of Mardi Gras? that’s like taking the presents out of Christmas, it’s just something you don’t do.

“Its like taking the Gras from Mardi, nah you can’t do that, there’s no way, nah the beads make the parade.

Even tourists like Paul and Denise Thorington who are visiting Lafayette from Buffalo, New York were a little confused by the petition.

“I wouldn’t be for that, it looks like a lot of fun to me.”

“It’s Mardi Gras, why would you ban something that’s so colorful.”

The petition wants to get rid of beads completely unless biodegradable, water soluble, and non-toxic beads are developed and made available.

Could you imagine a Mardi Gras without beads?

 “No not at all, it’s like synonymous. Beads. Beads. right!”

The bigger the better.