How New Jersey Restaurants and a Major Food Supplier Are Teaming Up to Recycle Millions of Oyster Shells for Ocean Conservation

After eating, thousands of New Jersey restaurant oyster shells are discarded. Shells that would go in landfills now help the environment. Since 2019, New Jersey has encouraged restaurants to return oyster shells to harvesting waters. Clears water and restores reefs.

Large food distributor Sysco is expanding this program. Sysco and the DEP will collect oyster shells from New Jersey and Northeast restaurants. Hundreds of restaurants can contribute shells to rebuild marine habitats under the program’s largest expansion.

Ocean life needs oyster shells. Returning them to water creates reefs with mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, and fish. These reefs allow commercial and recreational fishing. Officials say healthy oyster populations benefit New Jersey’s seafood industry and environment.

Oyster shell recycling is easy but careful. Restaurants keep shells. Before returning them to rivers and bays, special facilities sun-clean them to remove bacteria. Most oysters need help in Mullica and Great Egg Harbor rivers.

The Inflation Reduction Act funds oyster restoration. This collaboration benefits restaurants, food distributors, and communities. It shows businesses and individuals taking environmental action.

By participating, Sysco and local restaurants improve New Jersey’s oceans. Oyster shells recovered from Atlantic City casinos and local restaurants benefit marine life and the economy. This program shows how simple actions help the environment.

Sources
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection statements
Sysco corporate announcements
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports
Inflation Reduction Act public records