Ever wondered where your oyster shells go once the bill comes and the restaurant server takes your plate?
The Alabama Coastal Foundation in Mobile established a recycling program in 2016 so …
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Ever wondered where your oyster shells go once the bill comes and the restaurant server takes your plate?
The Alabama Coastal Foundation in Mobile established a recycling program in 2016 so restaurants that sell oysters on the half-shell can recycle them back into Alabama waters.
Mark Berte, executive director for ACF, said that for decades people had suggested the organization create such a program, but it wasn't until 2015 that that dream became reality.
"People had talked about it for years, but when I saw a grant pop up from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, it seemed like the perfect fit," Berte said.
The Foundation quickly began educating local restaurants about the project and gauging interested participants. Each of the restaurants who take part in the program pay the ACF to participate, which helps to fund the program.
"We ask the restaurants to recycle their shells into our carts, and then we send a contractor to collect them three times a week," Berte said. "Once we get the shells, we leave them outside for six months so they can get clean."
Berte said the outside of an oyster shell is the best place for a new oyster to attach, so once the shells are properly cleaned they are safe to be returned to the water.
"We actually just hit a milestone a few weeks ago: we have officially collected 20 million shells since the start of the program," Berte said.
The program is currently taking shells from restaurants located in both Baldwin County and Mobile County.
Participating restaurants include: