If you shuck it, don’t chuck it!

Don’t be shellfish! Did you know North Carolina has sites where you can drop off oyster shells for recycling? Oysters grow on pilings and concrete but their favorite place is on other shells. A special program puts the shells back into the water. A mound of ‘em helps produce new oysters and provides habitat for other beneficial organisms, such as minnows, algae and crabs. 

The recycling sites also accept other calcium-based shells, including clams, conchs, scallops and mussels. For a list of sites, visit portal.ncdenr.org and put “drop-off locations” in your search.