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.
AnnapolisAnglers Hunting Fishing Annapolis Seafood Market Annapolis Yacht Club Chesapeake Bay Foundation Eastport Yacht Club Shell recycling bins in the Annapolis area are sponsored by BaltimoreParking lot of the Downtown Sailing Center and Baltimore Museum of Industry, to the right of the entrance. Chesapeake BeachBreezy Point Marina EastonEaston Point Marina |
EdgewaterOak Grove Marina FrederickCommon Market Co-Op May's Restaurant Glen BurnieArturo's Restaurant 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 EastonLegal Assets Craft Food & Spirits EssexMcFaul's FrederickFirestone |
GalesvillePirates Cove Restaurant GambrillsBlue Dolphin Glen BurnieArturo's Restaurant Havre de GraceWater Street Seafood ParkvilleMcFaul's Ironhorse Tavern Severna ParkBrian Boru Restaurant & Pub |
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 Julie Luecke ahead of time at jluecke@cbf.org or 757-644-4125 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 Virginia. If you are interested in hosting a shell-recycling bin, contact CBF's oyster restoration office at 757-644-4125.
CarrolltonCaptain Chuck-a-muck's ChesapeakeGreat Bridge High School HamptonSam Rust Seafood Glen AllenHenrico County Parks and Recreation MidlothianClover Hill High School Newport NewsMariners Museum NorfolkErnie Morgan Environmental Action Center Larchmont Library |
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 WilliamsburgCollege of William & Mary Campus James City County Recycling Center |
Participating Restaurants
The following restaurants also participate in the Save Oyster Shells program:
ChesapeakeBlack Pelican ChesterRiptides HamptonBaker's Wife HayesMobjack Tavern Newport NewsHoss's Deli & Oyster Bar Norfolkin partnership with Keep Norfolk Beautiful and Norfolk Waste Management Big Easy Oyster Bar and Grill PoquosonSurf Rider (Poquoson) RichmondLive Crawfish and Seafood Restaurant |
SmithfieldCaptain Chuck-a-muck's SurrySurry Seafood Company UrbannaHalf Shell Grill Virginia BeachCavalier Golf & Yacht Club 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 Julie Luecke at jluecke@cbf.org or 757-644-4125.
Partners and Funders
Expansion of oyster shell recycling across the state is supported by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, funded by the sale of Chesapeake Bay license plates. 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 and Lynnhaven River NOW. Learn more about their efforts and support them as they make use of this precious resource.
