News Popeyes Treats Mardi Gras Clean-Up Krewe to Late-Night Fried Chicken The festivities left behind an estimated 608 tons of trash. By Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. She has been scouring the Internet for the buzziest Southern news since joining the team in 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on March 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images After a two-year hiatus, Mardi Gras returned to the streets of New Orleans in full force this week. But days of revelry leaves a wake of garbage—an estimated 608 tons of trash, to be exact. At some points along the five-mile parade route, the litter can climb as high as the street signs. When the party ends and the tourists are asleep in their hotel rooms, clean-up crews toil through the night to clean the streets. This year, Popeyes thanked the men and women who look after New Orleans by treating them to an after-hours fried chicken feast. "During the Mardi Gras season, thousands of people leave pieces of the party behind after the last parade," the fast-food chain wrote alongside a video of the clean-up effort on Twitter. "So, we hit the streets to celebrate the Krewe taking pride in keeping NOLA clean!" WATCH: Alabama Preschoolers Put on Mardi Gras Parade for Residents of Senior Home "We're the last official Krewe of Mardi Gras," one worker said proudly. Until next year, y'all! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit