R E M I N D E R S
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!
Upcoming Events
May 20-22, 2025
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans
Please consider registering andspreading theword!
Hosted by CRCL and its partners, SOC is the largest statewide conference of its kind, providing an interdisciplinary forum to exchange timely and relevant information on the dynamic conditions of Louisiana’s coastal communities, environment and economy.
New Locations!
CRCL has moved!
Leaving our longtime home in Mid-City for The Rigs (pictured below), our new office is at a scenic spot on the batture just upriver from Audubon Park. We are excited to be right on the Mississippi River, which is so important to our coast and to our work
May 21, 2025
Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar New Orleans
Join us for an evening of camaraderie, delicious local seafood and inspiring conversations about the future of our coast. Your participation will support CRCL's mission to protect and restore Louisiana’s coast.
Pausing pick-up:
If your restaurant needs to pause pick-up (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!
Noticed a change on the title page?
We will now be referencing data by CALENDAR year, not FISCAL year.
Our new address is: 25 Walnut Street, Suite 201, New Orleans, LA 70118
We picked the location for our fall 2025 oyster shell reef!
This fall, we will build a 200-ton recycled shell living shoreline at LUMCON in Chauvin Stay on the lookout for more details and ways to get involved!
The OSRP is getting fest-ive!
Amite Oyster Fest: Osprey recycled 3,575lbs (115 cubic feet) of shells!
Jazz Fest: CRCL staff will be volunteering to overlook shell bins. We’d love to post a picture of you or any restaurant staff posing with a bin if you spot us!
Zurich Classic: We’ll be tabling and recycling shells again this year. Come say hi!
H I G H L I G H T S
CRCL'S OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING PROGRAM
LEEVILLE LIVING SHORELINE
This February, we built our SEVENTH recycled oyster shell reef! Located in Leeville, this living shoreline was built with the help of NFL Green, Force Blue, Chefs Brigade and around 175 volunteers, using 59 tons of shell. We also planted native marsh grasses to fortify this recreational spot even more. It was a large endeavor; CRCL hosted news teams and various food vendors (including OSRP partner Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant & Catering). We look forward to expanding this reef in the future!
LOVE YOUR CITY AWARDS
SHELL-A-BRATION
We had the most successful Shell-A-Bration yet! We welcomed over 400 guests, hosted eight oyster farmers, and most importantly, raised money for the OSRP!
We couldn’t have done this without generous donations. Special thanks to OSRP partners Bywater American Bistro, Compere Lapin, Cooter Brown’s Tavern, Mister Mao, NOCHI, Peche Seafood Grill and Southern Pearl Oyster House for donating gift cards for the silent auction!
We are proud to announce that CRCL won two awards at the 2025 Love Your City Awards Gala: Zero Waste and Best in Show!
Shoutout to our OSRP partners Hilton Riverside Hotel and Hotel Peter & Paul for also winning awards!
Love Your City works to mobilize, empower and identify ways individuals and organizations are positively impacting New Orleans.
NEW RESTAURANTS
We are thrilled to welcome to the program:
Blue Bayou Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Le Moyne Bistro & Maria's Oyster Bar
Neyow’s Creole Cafe
OfficialGuidance:
How to Receive a Tax Credit for Recycling Oyster Shells TAX
CREDIT
Here's what you need to know!
Your restaurant can receive a tax credit of $1 for every 50 pounds of shell (up to $2,000 annually) for all shell recycled in a given year.
Restaurants are responsible for applying for the credit with their taxes each year.
For CY2025, CRCL will provide each participating restaurant partner with a Quarterly Receipt (Form R-90154) at the end of each quarter We ask that restaurants keep these Receipts on file so that you can submit them with your tax credit application next year
UPCOMING OSRP BAGGING EVENTS
When tax season comes around, restaurants may contact CRCL to receive copies of their 2025 Quarterly Receipts (Form R-90154), required for tax credit applications.
Location: CRCL Restoration Headquarters 6207 E. St. Bernard Hwy, Violet, LA 70092
April 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
April 23, 9 a.m. - 1p.m
May 5, 9 a m - 1 p m
May 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 30, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
CHEFS ON BOATS
This program is a unique and immersive educational experience to gain exposure to Louisiana and other Gulf Coast fisheries. Participants learn about a variety of impacts to the resources required to source our beloved seafood recipes and visit one of our recycled oyster shell reefs in Plaquemines Parish
LOUISIANA SEAFOOD PASSPORT
AllOSRPrestaurantsare automaticallyfeaturedonthis localfoodtrail!
In collaboration with Audubon GULF, CRCL and Eat Local, the Louisiana Seafood Passport celebrates restaurants that serve and participate in the sustainable seafood industry
Once you shuck ’em, don’t just chuck ’em!
Biloxi Marsh Living Shoreline
Pointe-au-Chien Community Reefs
Coming this Fall:
Grand Caillou/Dulac Community Reef at LUMCON
Barataria Bay Living Shoreline
Grand Bayou Community Reef
Plaquemines Community Reef
Leeville Living Shoreline
Wanttoknowwhereyourrecycledshellsendup?
CRCL established the Oyster Shell Recycling Program in 2014 to keep shell out of landfills and slow coastal land loss
REEF 1: BILOXI MARSH
Built in 2016
St. Bernard
1/2 mile
848 tons
Gabion baskets
REEF 2: POINTE-AU-CHIEN #1
Built in 2019
Lafourche / Terrebonne
400 feet
200 tons
Bagged shell
In partnership with New Orleans and Baton Rouge area restaurants and our legion of volunteers, we collect oyster shells to restore reefs that help protect Louisiana’s eroding coastline.
REEF 3: BARATARIA BAY
Built in 2020 Jefferson / Lafourche
3/4 mile
800 tons
Gabion baskets
REEF 4: PLAQUEMINES
REEF 5: POINTE-AU-CHIEN #2
Built in 2022-23
Lafourche / Terrebonne
400 feet
200 tons
Bagged shell
Since starting the program, we have recycled close to 16 million pounds of shell and protected over 8,600 feet of shoreline along the coast.
REEF 7: LEEVILLE
Built in 2025
Lafourche
270 feet
59 tons
Bagged shell
REEF 6: GRAND BAYOU
Built in 2024
Built in 2021-22
Plaquemines
400 feet
150 tons
Bagged shell
Plaquemines
900 feet
200 tons
Bagged shell
NEW ORLEANS AREA PUBLIC DROP-OFFS
NEWTIME& LOCATION
y 4 - 5:30 p.m.
CRCL’S RESTORATION HQ
6207 E. St Bernard Hwy. Violet, LA 70092
Open 24/7!
THE GREEN PROJECT 2831 Marais St. New Orleans, LA 70117
Wednesday to Saturday: 11 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
GLASS HALF FULL 3935 Louisa St. New Orleans, LA 70126
Monday & Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
NEXT TO EAT WHOLISTIC CULINARY MARKET
2132 Simon Bolivar Ave. New Orleans, LA 70113
Tuesday to Thursday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Please email oysters@crcl.org for other inquiries
• Program management & restoration projects planning • Darrah Bach
OSRP Manager darrah bach@crcl org
• Restaurant onboarding & program logistics • Fiona Lightbody
OSRP Coordinator fiona.lightbody@crcl.org
Abby Slattery
OSRP Serve LA Coordinator abby.slattery@crcl.org
• Reporting & monitoring •
VIEW
FOLLOW ALONG RESTORE
Coastal Programming Coordinator sofia.giordano@crcl.org
• Volunteer event coordination • Sofia Giordano
Randy Sunde
BR Recycling Contractor Coastal Environments Incorporated 225-436-0874
• Bin delivery & pick-up in Baton Rouge •
• Media inquiries • James Karst
Director of Communications james karst@crcl org
• Bin delivery & pick-up in New Orleans • Hendrik Vanderwall
NO Recycling Contractor R&R Recycling 504-472-2080
