Galveston Bay Oyster Shell Recycling Program: Reclaiming the Resource

Summary

The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) began an Oyster Shell Recycling Program in March 2011 and will expand to include more restaurants throughout the Houston-Galveston area. A shell recycling route will be established based on the participating restaurants, with a goal of 6-10 restaurants for this stage of the program. GBF will direct, promote, and expand the program and lead educational efforts for restaurant owners, wait staff, and patrons. A majority of the program time is spent collecting shells and moving it to GBF’s property in Texas City for curing, with the remaining time spent on community outreach efforts, program expansion, and restaurant recruitment. Shells obtained will be used for future projects that benefit ecosystem services of Galveston Bay and the health and sustainability of the native oyster population. Various uses of the recycled shell may include small-scale or large-scale restoration projects, community outreach oyster gardening projects, and/or shell bags for shoreline protection projects.  By participating in the shell recycling program, restaurants will save on waste-related weight costs, and help restore a commercial fishery that is essential to their business.