Get Involved - People are needed to serve as volunteers to help with collection of shells and to maintain sites, using cans and special bins. Civic clubs, businesses, and schools can also volunteer. Collection sites are located at restaurants, seafood markets, stores, trash convenient sites, parks and schools. Once a site is full, a volunteer will either service the cans to a nearby landfill or bin, or contact the recycling coordinator to pick up the shells. The shells are taken to a facility to stockpile until planting season. After the shells have aged, and there is no threat of any type of contamination, they are placed in the water to create new reefs.


Give us Your Shells - Drop your shells off at a designated disposal site and feel good that you are helping conserve this important natural resource. Also, if your business, church or community is having a large oyster roast, arrangements can be made to have special trailers brought right to the roast to collect the shells. Encourage seafood markets and restaurants you frequent to join the recycling efforts.

General Statutes (PDF)
Legislation related to oyster shell recycling

Recycling Program Awards
Awards presented to the NC Oyster Shell Recycling program