FY2024 QUARTER 2
OCTOBERDECEMBER 2023
THE OYSTER DISH
CRCL'S OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING PROGRAM QUARTERLY REPORT
REMINDERS Please mind your trash! Please recycle ONLY oyster, mussel, clam and scallop shells in the bins. Your shells will be returned to the water; let's make sure trash does not go with them!
Pausing pick-up If your restaurant needs to pause pickup (closure, oysters off the menu temporarily, etc.), please email us at oysters@crcl.org or call Fiona at (216) 906 - 8957 Once you are ready to resume pick-up, let us know!
SHELL-A-BRATION DONATIONS Our annual fundraiser, Shell-A-Bration, is back! Join us March 22 at the Cajun Ballroom at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. This event brings together oyster lovers for a night of live music, delicious food (including fresh oysters), door prizes and a silent auction! We would love to feature your restaurant on all relevant media related to the event! Those interested in donating gift cards or food can email oysters@crcl.org for information.
SHELL RECYCLING TAX CREDIT This is a reminder to all restaurant partners that starting this year, you will be eligible for a state tax credit for recycling your shell. All OSRP partners will receive documentation reflecting their donated volume. The tax credit will provide $1 for every 50 pounds of oyster shells recycled, up to $2,000 per restaurant. If you have questions, please email oysters@crcl.org.
SHELL COLLECTION WRAPPED THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR IN 2023!
TOP 5: 2023 1. Bourbon House 248,800 pounds 2. Drago’s Seafood (Hilton Riverside) 205,653 pounds 3. ACME Metairie 162,825 pounds 4. Superior Seafood 161,150 pounds 5. Pêche 104,542 pounds
TOP 5: ALL TIME 1. Drago’s Seafood (Hilton Riverside) 2,120,327 pounds 2. Bourbon House 1,884,550 pounds 3. Superior Seafood 1,299,475 pounds 4. ACME Metairie 1,207,200 pounds 5. Felix’s (French Quarter) 729,128 pounds
2023 NEWCOMERS MARCH New Orleans Food & Spirits
27,775 pounds Station 6 18,825 pounds
APRIL Casamento’s
37,350 pounds JUNE Felix’s (French Quarter)
74,428 pounds Felix’s (Lakefront) 64,225 pounds
JULY Pigeon & Whale
3,650 pounds
DECEMBER Genevieve’s
200 pounds
SHELL COLLECTION BY THE NUMBERS
We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings. Our new motto: no shell left behind!
We are so grateful for our dedicated restaurant partners, helping us grow each and every year.
NEW RESTAURANTS We are thrilled to welcome to the program: PORGY’S SEAFOOD MARKET
Does your restaurant have an oyster happy hour? We want to promote it! Let us know your happy hour specials so we can share them on our social media! Email Fiona at oysters@crcl.org!
UPCOMING RESTORATION EVENTS JANUARY 26 & 27 CENTRAL WETLANDS REFORESTATION COLLECTIVE - CYPRESS TREE PLANTING @ RESTORATION HQ, VIOLET, LA FEBRUARY 24 COOK-OFF FOR THE COAST DOCVILLE FARM, MERAUX, LA MARCH 1 & 2 CENTRAL WETLANDS REFORESTATION COLLECTIVE - CYPRESS TREE PLANTING @ RESTORATION HQ, VIOLET, LA
THANK YOU, CHEFS BRIGADE Please join us in congratulating our program sponsor Chefs Brigade for reaching the milestone of
1 million pounds of shell recycled as a direct result of their support. Since 2022, we have partnered with them to make shell recycling more accessible to restaurants in the New Orleans area. Check out their website here.
SPECIAL EVENTS This is a reminder that we offer complimentary special event pick-up services! We hope to recycle as many shells from the New Orleans area as we can. Oyster purveyors that are expecting an extra influx of shells to be recycled for a limited time are able to receive extra bins to account for the overflow, free of charge. Last year we worked with the American Cancer Society to recycle all shells from their annual fundraiser, Shuck Cancer. They collected over 2,600 pounds of recycled oyster shells to be returned to the water. Have an event coming up and want special event recycling services? Email Fiona at oysters@crcl.org.
Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline
Pointe-au-Chien Community Reefs
Barataria Bay Living Shoreline
Plaquemines Community Reef
Want to know where your recycled shells end up? CRCL established the Oyster Shell Recycling Program (OSRP) in 2014 to keep shell out of landfills and slow coastal land loss. In partnership with New Orleans-area restaurants and our legion of volunteers, we collect oyster shells to restore reefs that help protect Louisiana’s eroding coastline. Since starting the program in 2014, we have recycled more than 13 million pounds of shell and protected over 8,000 feet of shoreline along the coast. Once you shuck ’em, don’t just chuck ’em!
BILOXI MARSH
POINTE-AU-CHIEN #1
BARATARIA BAY
PLAQUEMINES
POINTE-AU-CHIEN #2
Built in 2016 St. Bernard 1/2 mile 868 tons Gabion baskets
Built in 2019 Lafourche / Terrebonne 400 feet 200 tons Bagged shell
Built in 2020 Jefferson / Lafourche 3/4 mile 800 tons Gabion baskets
Built in 202122 Plaquemines 300 feet 150 tons Bagged shell
Built in 2022-23 Lafourche / Terrebonne 400 feet 200 tons Bagged shell
PUBLIC DROP-OFFS
ONCE YOU SHUCK 'EM, DON'T JUST CHUCK 'EM!
1. AUDUBON CLUBHOUSE CAFÉ
2. THE GREEN PROJECT
3. GLASS HALF FULL
6500 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70118
2831 Marais St. New Orleans, LA 70117
3935 Louisa St. New Orleans, LA 70126
Wednesday: 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday to Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Monday & Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
MEET THE TEAM
Darrah Bach
Fiona Lightbody
Hendrik Vanderwall
OSRP Manager darrah.bach@crcl.org
OSRP Coordinator fiona.lightbody@crcl.org
Restaurant onboarding and special events
Quarterly reports, volunteer events
Recycling Contractor R&R Recycling 504-472-2080
Coastal Adventures Coordinator sofia.giordano@crcl.org
Bin delivery and pick-up
Volunteer event coordination
Sofia Giordano
Grace Nolan
James Karst
OSRP Serve LA Coordinator grace.nolan@crcl.org
Director of Communications james.karst@crcl.org Media inquiries
Please email oysters@crcl.org for other inquiries
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EAT AT OUR PARTNER RESTAURANTS VIEW UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOLLOW ALONG AS WE RESTORE THE COAST
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SUPPORT FOR THE OSRP PROVIDED BY
THANK YOU TO OUR RECYCLING PARTNERS!