Town Recycles Thousands of Shells from Oyster Festival for Harbor Sanctuary

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with Town environmental experts to collect the thousands of oyster shells which were collected during the weekend of the Oyster Festival, which will be recycled through the Town’s Shell Recycling Program. The shells, amounting to roughly 3500 pounds, are transported by Town aqua culturists to a curing facility, where they will remain for several months prior to being strategically returned to the harbor to assist in the growth of new shellfish.

“You can’t have the Oyster Festival without oysters, and thousands of residents enjoyed this delicacy during the weekend’s festivities,” said Supervisor Saladino. Thanks to the Town’s Shell Recycling Program, we can make sure the shells will not go to waste and be recycled back into our waters.”

The Supervisor explained that shells provide an excellent source of habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature, offering protection from weather conditions and predators.

“It’s amazing what can happen if we just let Mother Nature take its course – which just a little help from us,” Supervisor Saladino said. “These shells offer great protection from weather conditions, and also help defend growing shellfish from predators. They are essential to our waterways and local marine environment, as they filter water through their feeding mechanisms.”

Any restaurant owner interested in partnering with the Town on the Shell Recycling Program can visit the Town’s website for more information, at www.oysterbaytown.com/shellrecycling.