Oyster Shell Recycling Program
Recycle Oyster Shells. Rebuild Our Coast.
- Louisiana has lost about 2,000 square miles of coast in the past 50 years. Without action, we could lose another 2,000 in the next 50.
- Meanwhile, millions of oyster shells are wasted in landfills each year. When those shells aren’t returned to the water, our coast loses natural defenses, oyster populations decline and marine ecosystems suffer. Our Oyster Shell Recycling Program corrects these problems. The OSRP turns discarded shells into living reefs that protect shoreline, improve water quality and restore habitat.
CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program bridges the gap.
- We collect used oyster shells from restaurants, residents and events, then return those shells to the Gulf by building living shorelines. These reefs:
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- Act as natural shoreline defenses, reducing wave energy and erosion by up to 50%
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- Create habitat for marine life, from oysters to shrimp and finfish
- Improve water quality by filtering particulates
- To date, the OSRP has recycled over 17 millions of pounds of shell and built over 10,000 feet of living shoreline across our coast. For a closer look at where and how we restore, explore our completed and upcoming oyster reefs.
Join the movement.
- We can’t do this alone. Your help is essential. You can:
- Donate to the cause — your support helps us scale our work and reach more communities
- Volunteer —bag shells and build reefs
- Recycle your shells — dine at a partner restaurant and/ or use one of our public drop-off locations
- Become a partner — join the dozens of restaurants that recycle their shells with OSRP