Oyster shells are literally the foundation of our reef restoration efforts! The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) needs your help—and your oyster shells—to restore native oysters in the Chesapeake Bay.
You can help by:
- Contacting us if you are planning an oyster roast or seafood festival.
- Sponsoring a shell recycling bin at your location.
- Disposing of your shells at a local shell recycling location.
- Eating at a participating restaurant.
Save Shells in Maryland Save Shells in Virginia
Oyster shells are becoming increasingly scarce. Through the Save Oyster Shells recycling program, shells that would typically be thrown away are saved and used in a variety of oyster restoration projects.
We turn 2,000 bushels of recycled oyster shells each year into habitat for millions of oysters planted in the Bay and its rivers. Once the recycled shells are cleaned and cured, CBF places them in huge water tanks containing millions of microscopic oyster larvae, which then attach to the shells. On average, each recycled shell can become home to dozens of those baby oysters, called spat. CBF provides the spat-on-shell to its oyster gardeners and plants them in rivers and the Bay to grow and expand oyster reefs.
Maryland Shell Recycling
Oyster Roasts & Seafood Festivals | Drop-off Locations | Restaurants
Oyster Roasts & Seafood Festivals
CBF collects shells from oyster roasts and seafood festivals. Contact Dan Johannes ahead of time at djohannes@cbf.org or 443-482-2174 and we can provide free pickup, as well as bins and signage to minimize shells mixing with other refuse.
Drop-off Locations
There are several public shell recycling drop-off locations across Maryland. If you are interested in hosting a shell-recycling bin, contact Dan Johannes at djohannes@cbf.org or 443-482-2174.
Locations are available in list form below map.
AnnapolisAnglers Hunting Fishing Chesapeake Bay Foundation Eastport Yacht Club Weems Creek Nursery School Shell recycling bins in the Annapolis area are sponsored by ArnoldBroadneck Elks Lodge #2608 BaltimoreParking lot of the Downtown Sailing Center and Baltimore Museum of Industry, to the right of the entrance. Chesapeake BeachBreezy Point Marina CrownsvilleHerald Harbor Community Beach EastonEaston Point 24 Hour Gas and Diesel EdgewaterOak Grove Marina |
FrederickCommon Market Co-Op May's Restaurant Shuckin' Shack Restaurant Glen BurnieArturo's Restaurant Lake Shore/PasadenaBodkin Elementary School Chesapeake Bay Middle School SevernRidgeway Elementary School Severna ParkStarbucks Shady SideDiscovery Village Union BridgeGravel Springs Farm Upper MarlboroClagett Farm and CSA |
.Participating Restaurants
The following restaurants also participate in the Save Oyster Shells program:
AnnapolisAnnapolis Yacht Club Clubhouse BaltimoreThe Ivy Hotel and Magdalena Restaurant Bel AirConrad's Crab & Seafood Market Easton4 Dogs Brewing Co & Pub FrederickLiberty Road Seafood & Steak GalesvillePirates Cove Restaurant GambrillsBlue Dolphin |
Glen BurnieArturo's Restaurant Havre de GraceWater Street Seafood North EastForge Port DepositLee's Landing Dock Bar Severna ParkBrian Boru Restaurant & Pub Shady SideBrick House Restaurant St. MichaelsBistros |
To learn more about how you can become involved in the oyster shell recycling program please contact Dan Johannes at djohannes@cbf.org or 443-482-2174.
To learn more about CBF's oyster recycling partners in Maryland please visit the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
More Ways to Help
- Become a volunteer and help collect shells from participating restaurants and oyster roasts.
- Become a Maryland oyster gardener.
Virginia Shell Recycling
Oyster Roasts & Seafood Festivals | Drop-off Locations | Restaurants
Oyster Roasts & Seafood Festivals
CBF collects shells from oyster roasts and seafood festivals. Contact Ryan Westpfahl ahead of time at rwestpfahl@cbf.org or 757-644-4119 and we can provide free pickup, as well as bins and signage to minimize shells mixing with other refuse. If your roast produces more than 3-5 bushels of shell, we can also come pick up everything after the event.
Drop-off Locations
There are several public shell recycling drop-off locations across Virginia. If you are interested in hosting a shell-recycling bin, contact CBF's oyster restoration office at 757-644-4125.
All bins on the Eastern Shore are sponsored by the Eastern Shore Community Services Board (ESCSB). If you have any questions regarding the program or these shell bins, please call ESCSB Developmental Services at 757-442-3933.
Information is provided in list form below the map.
AccomackESCSB Administrative Office Cape CharlesFabric Outlet CarrolltonCaptain Chuck-a-muck's ChesapeakeGreat Bridge High School ExmoreESCSB Developmental Services Glen AllenHenrico County Parks and Recreation HamptonSam Rust Seafood MidlothianClover Hill High School Newport NewsMariners Museum NorfolkErnie Morgan Environmental Action Center Larchmont Library |
ParksleyESCSB's Behavioral Healthcare Center Dunne Substance Abuse and Counseling Center SmithfieldSmithfield Station SuffolkBennetts Creek Park SurrySurry Seafood Company ToanoJames City County Recycling Center Virginia BeachCBF Brock Environmental Center Ocean Lakes High School Tallwood High School WachapreagueIsland House WilliamsburgCollege of William & Mary Campus James City County Recycling Center |
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Does CBF sell oyster shells? Can I buy shells for my driveway? |
Participating Restaurants
These restaurants recycle the shell produced from their menu items to CBF. They do not accept public shell drop offs. Please see section above to locate the public drop off bin nearest you. The following restaurants also participate in the Save Oyster Shells program:
ChesapeakeBlack Pelican HamptonBaker's Wife HayesMobjack Tavern Newport NewsSchlesinger's Steakhouse Norfolkin partnership with Keep Norfolk Beautiful and Norfolk Waste Management A.W. Shucks |
SmithfieldCaptain Chuck-a-muck's SurrySurry Seafood Company Virginia BeachBubba's WilliamsburgAberdeen Barn |
More Ways to Help
- Become a volunteer and help collect shells from participating restaurants and oyster roasts.
- Become a Virginia oyster gardener.
To participate or for more program information, contact Ryan Westpfahl at rwestpfahl@cbf.org or 757-644-4119.
Partners and Funders
Shell collection in Norfolk is supported by Keep Norfolk Beautiful and Norfolk Waste Management. There are many other entities in Virginia that collect oyster shell and make restoration possible, including the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program (VOSRP) at Virginia Commonwealth University's Rice Rivers Center, Lynnhaven River NOW, and Friends of the Rappahannock. Learn more about their efforts and support them as they make use of this precious resource.
