Millions of shells are essential to restoring one billion oysters!
Why? In the wild, young oysters — or spat — must settle on a hard surface to survive. Oyster, clam, and scallop shells provide that hard surface and are rich in calcium carbonate — making them the perfect substrate for oysters to settle on. And, thanks to New Yorkers’ lasting love for oysters, these shells are a plentiful local resource.
In 2015, Billion Oyster Project started a Shell Collection Program, giving restaurants an opportunity to not only divert shells from landfills, but also to reclaim this valuable resource for the restoration of oyster reefs. Visit our Restaurants page to learn more and get involved in the program.
Introducing PUBLIC SHELL COLLECTION
Thanks to unwavering excitement and enthusiasm across our supporters, it’s now possible for the public to recycle clam, scallop and oyster shells!
We have partnered with Compost Power, at River Street Farm Collective (105 River St, entrance at North 3rd) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to roll out our first public shell drop-off.
Read about it in Time Out, and get recycling!
With the help of NYC restaurants:
We’ve collected more than 2.4 million pounds of recycled shells, which become the foundation of future oyster reefs installed at 18 restoration sites across New York Harbor.
an alliance of shell collectors
Billion Oyster Project is a member of the New York Alliance of Shell Collectors (NYASC), which promotes collaboration between shell collecting organizations across New York State and advocates for state & national efforts for the collection and curing of oyster shell.
More ways to get involved
Less Trash, More Reefs
New Yorkers eat up to half a million oysters every week! Imagine if all of those shells helped to restore our Harbor! When you become a Billion Oyster Project member, you help expand our restoration and education initiatives.
Dine for New York Harbor
When you order oysters at a Billion Oyster Project partner restaurant, the shells left over from your meal will be donated to Billion Oyster Project and reused in our citywide efforts to restore New York City’s oyster reefs.
Paper, Plastic, Shells
NY State restaurants may soon be eligible for a tax credit for recycling their shells—an idea pitched by West End Secondary School students involved in the Billion Oyster Project! In response to their presentation, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal drafted a bill.
Research
Check out the collaborative research we’ve conducted with The Nature Conservancy.