Save Oyster Shells
Find out about oyster shell recycling then get involved. Drop off your empty oyster shells, volunteer to pickup shells and deliver them to CBF, host a recycling pickup, or encourage your local seafood restaurant to participate.
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.
Does CBF sell oyster shells? Can I buy shells for my driveway?
100% of the oyster shells that CBF recycles go to our oyster restoration efforts in the Bay, so we cannot sell them or otherwise give them away. Because each recycled shell in our restoration program is home to, on average, 10 new baby oysters, we strongly encourage everyone to recycle their shells for restoration and not for landscaping or other uses.
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.
Annapolis
Anglers Hunting Fishing
Near Sandy Point State Park
1456 Whitehall Road
Annapolis, MD
(Save Our Shell (SOS) bin out front under the Anglers sign)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Philip Merrill Center
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage at the entrance)
Eastport Yacht Club
317 First Street
Annapolis, MD
Weems Creek Nursery School
238 Kirkley Road
Annapolis, MD
Shell recycling bins in the Annapolis area are sponsored by Annapolis Subaru.
Arnold
Broadneck Elks Lodge #2608
931 Lake Drive
Arnold, MD 21012
(Save Our Shell (SOS) bin is located next to the dumpster)
Baltimore
Parking lot of the Downtown Sailing Center and Baltimore Museum of Industry, to the right of the entrance.
1415-1425 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD
Chesapeake Beach
Breezy Point Marina
5230 Breezy Point Road
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
Crownsville
Herald Harbor Community Beach
2 Bonaparte Road (closest address to Save Our Shell (SOS) cage)
Easton
Easton Point 24 Hour Gas and Diesel
930 Port Street
Easton, MD
Edgewater
Oak Grove Marina
Next to Yellowfin Restaurant
2820 Solomon’s Island Rd, Suite A
Edgewater, MD 21037
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage in the upper parking lot)
Frederick
Common Market Co-Op
927 W. 7th Street
Frederick, MD
(Ask at the seafood counter where to drop off your shells)
May’s Restaurant
5640 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD
Shuckin’ Shack Restaurant41 S Market Street
Frederick, MD
(Collection containers are located behind the restaurant)
Glen Burnie
Arturo’s Restaurant
1660 Crain Hwy South
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Lake Shore/Pasadena
Bodkin Elementary School
8320 Ventnor Road
Lake Shore, MD 21122
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage is located to the left of the school, near the dumpster area)
Chesapeake Bay Middle School
4804 Mountain Road
Pasadena, MD 21122
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage is on the side of the building to the left of the main entrance)
Severn
Ridgeway Elementary School
1440 Evergreen Road
Severn, MD 21144
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage is on the corner next to the clothing dropoff box)
Severna Park
Severna Park High School
60 Robinson Road
Severna Park, MD 21146
(Bin is located next to the yellow clothes bin)
Starbucks
503 Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD 21146
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage in rear parking lot)
Shady Side
Discovery Village
4800 Atwell Road
Shady Side, MD 20764
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage in outer parking lot)
Union Bridge
Gravel Springs Farm
3401 Lowman Lane
Union Bridge, MD 21791
(Public dropoff location bin is located half-way down the driveway on the left side)
Upper Marlboro
Clagett Farm and CSA
11904 Old Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
(Save Our Shell (SOS) cage is located at the entrance)
Participating Restaurants
The following restaurants also participate in the Save Oyster Shells program:
Annapolis
Annapolis Yacht Club Clubhouse
Leo Annapolis
Baltimore
The Ivy Hotel and Magdalena Restaurant
Bel Air
Conrad’s Crab & Seafood Market
Easton
4 Dogs Brewing Co & Pub
Legal Assets Craft Food & Spirits
Frederick
Liberty Road Seafood & Steak
May’s Restaurant
Red Horse Steak House
Shuckin’ Shack
Galesville
Pirates Cove Restaurant
Gambrills
Blue Dolphin
Glen Burnie
Arturo’s Restaurant
Havre de Grace
Water Street Seafood
North East
Forge
Port Deposit
Lee’s Landing Dock Bar
Severna Park
Brian Boru Restaurant & Pub
Shady Side
Brick House Restaurant
St. Michaels
Bistros
Foxy’s Harbor Grille
Theo’s Steak, Sides & Spirits
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.
Accomack
ESCSB Administrative Office
24233 Lankford Highway
Cape Charles
Fabric Outlet
27376 Charles M Lankford Jr. Memorial Highway
Carrollton
Captain Chuck-a-muck’s
21088 Marina Road
Bin is located behind the restaurant.
Chesapeake
Great Bridge High School
301 Hanbury Road West
Bin is located in front of the school, across from the bus parking lot.
Exmore
ESCSB Developmental Services
3462 Main Street
Glen Allen
Henrico County Parks and Recreation
2175 Mountain Road
Pull past the first set of gates, bin is on the right.
Hampton
Sam Rust Seafood
620 Regional Drive
Bin is located in the back right corner of the parking lot.
Midlothian
Clover Hill High School
13301 Kelly Green Lane
Follow Kelly Green Trail to the end of Sean Miles Run, then the shell bin will be just off of the sidewalk on your left.
Newport News
Mariners Museum
100 Museum Drive
Bin located in the first parking lot off Museum Drive to the right.
Norfolk
Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center
3500 A Granby St.
From Granby Street, take the Zoo entrance and then the first left all the way to the end to the Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center. The shell bin is to the right of the building against the fence.
Larchmont Library
6525 Hampton Blvd.
Bin located between the parking lot and the library.
Parksley
ESCSB’s Behavioral Healthcare Center
24278 Bennet Street
Dunne Substance Abuse and Counseling Center
18469 Dunne Avenue
Smithfield
Smithfield Station
409 S. Church Street
Bin is located in front of the restaurant at the bottom of the handicap ramp.
Suffolk
Bennetts Creek Park
3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road
Follow drive all the way to the boat ramp. The bin is on the right.
Surry
Surry Seafood Company
633 Marina Drive
Bin is located to the left of the building, just off the parking lot.
Toano
James City County Recycling Center
185 Industrial Boulevard
Pull into facility. Bin is along the back fence. (Open Mon, Fri-Sat 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Virginia Beach
CBF Brock Environmental Center
3663 Marlin Bay Drive
The Anne Shumadine Shell Recycling Station is located on the left before the dumpsters. Please dump shells into bushel baskets. Gates are open to drive up to the Station from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. At other times use walking path.
Ocean Lakes High School
885 Schumann Drive
Bin is located to in the far front right corner of the parking lot.
Tallwood High School
1668 Kempsville Road
Bin is located in the far back right corner of the parking lots, behind the school, off of the practice driving lot.
Wachapreague
Island House
17 Atlantic Avenue
Williamsburg
College of William & Mary Campus
Tennis Court Road
At Martin Family Stadium, turn right onto a gravel road and go all the way to the end.
James City County Recycling Center
117 Tewning Road
Pull into facility. Bin is to the right of the pavilion (Open: Tues.-Sat. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
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:
Chesapeake
Black Pelican
Hampton
Baker’s Wife
Fuller’s Raw Bar
Pour Girls Bar & Grill
The Landing Hotel
Hayes
Mobjack Tavern
Newport News
Schlesinger’s Steakhouse
Norfolk
in partnership with Keep Norfolk Beautiful and Norfolk Waste Management
A.W. Shucks
Big Easy Oyster Bar and Grill
Coach House
Mack’s Barge
Saltine
Todd Jurich’s Bistro
Smithfield
Captain Chuck-a-muck’s
Smithfield Station Waterfront Dining Restaurant
Surry
Surry Seafood Company
Virginia Beach
Bubba’s
Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club
Chick’s Oyster Bar
Fish Bones Restaurant
Heirloom
HK on the Bay
Nautilus
Quemar
Terrapin
The Butchers Son
Tin Cup (Delta Marriott)
Zoe’s Steak & Seafood
Williamsburg
Aberdeen Barn
Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill
Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant
Craft 31
Doubletree Hotel
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.
