Oyster Shell Recycling With oyster season underway, many coastal residents are enjoying these tasty treats in a variety of delicious ways. You might bring home a dozen and enjoy them raw on the half shell as an appetizer, or invite family and friends over for that lowcountry tradition we all enjoy, the oyster roast. Regardless of how you enjoy them, please consider recycling the shells by dropping them off at one of the locations listed below. The shells are used on shorelines to create or enhance oyster reefs in our coastal estuaries. Oysters serve as habitat for marine life, they restore and protect shorelines from erosion, and are a critical part of our coastal ecosystem. When dropping off oyster shells, please be sure not to include trash such as napkins or cracker wrappers, and do not leave behind bags or other carrying devices. Please also do not attempt to recycle the shells yourself by placing them in the water or on the bank − oyster shells must first be quarantined and cured before being used to construct reefs and oyster banks.
Bagging oysters by hand can be challenging!
Beaufort County, S.C. Locations Beaufort Bin - Beaufort County Public Works Bluffton Bin - Trask Landing Hilton Head Bin - Coastal Discovery Museum Port Royal Bin - Sands Beach Boat Landing Lemon Island Bin - Edgar Glenn Boat Landing Hunting Island Bin - Russ Point St. Helena/Lady's Island Bin - St. Helena Recycling Center For hours and more information in S.C. call (843) 953-9397 or visit http://saltwaterfishing. sc.gov/oyster.html
A bagging machine and volunteers at a recent bagging event.
Georgia Locations Brunswick Shell Recycling Center - DNR Campus Darien Shell Recycling Center - Champney River Boat Ramp Jekyll Island Shell Recycling Center - Jekyll Recycling Center Tybee Island Shell Recycling Center - Polk Street For hours and more information in Ga. call (912) 598-2387 or visit gacoast.uga.edu/education/adulteducation/oyster-restoration/ Bagged oysters such as these are used to create new or enhance existing oyster reefs.
Photos provided by GADNR October 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
15
