Oyster Recycling and Restoration Program
Why should I recycle my oyster shells?
Although South Carolina’s commercial shellfish harvest has remained stable over the past three decades, the closing of oyster canneries and most shucking houses during this period has resulted in a shortage of shucked oyster shell needed to cultivate oyster beds. The increasing popularity of backyard oyster roasts and by-the-bushel retail sales have contributed to this shortage in that, contrary to the shucking houses and canneries, shells remaining from individual oyster roasts are not usually returned to the estuary to provide a suitable surface to attract juvenile oysters. More often than not, the shell ends up in driveways and landfills.
How does this process work?
During the summer months, oysters spawn and release free-swimming larvae, called spat, into the water column. The spat are carried by tide and current and after spending about two weeks moving in the water column, seek a suitable surface upon which to attach and begin building their shells of calcium carbonate. Unless disturbed, they will spend the remainder of their life cycle where they have attached. Centuries of oyster cultivation experience have proven oyster shell to be one of most desirable materials (called cultch) for attachment and subsequent growth of young oysters. Other cultch materials, such as shucked whelk shell and wooden stakes have been very successful in attracting and supporting oyster spat.
Your license recycles!
Each year, oyster shell used for planting public shellfish grounds has become increasingly expensive and hard to find. A SCDNR project, funded by the revenue generated by Saltwater Recreational Fishing License sales, makes it possible to recycle oyster shell and reclaim this valuable resource to enhance shellfish habitat. As this conservation initiative gains public awareness and participation, it is hoped that increased volumes of oyster shell will be made available for planting Public Shellfish Grounds by SCDNR personnel and equipment and by contract with private companies to improve recreational shellfish harvesting opportunities for the public.
Where can I take my oyster shell to recycle them?
With the cooperation of local and county governments and businesses in coastal South Carolina, oyster shell recycling drop-off sites (places where the public can bring their oyster shells) have been established in convenient locations. Sixteen drop-off sites have been established and are ready to receive shell. Location of sites are: Click on the maps below to bring up Adobe PDF file and a larger view. Maps are from 245 KB - 477 KB in file size.
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From Georgetown take US 17 N. Bear right onto Murrells Inlet US 17 Bus. Fire Station is 0.3 miles on the right. From Myrtle Beach take Myrtle Beach US 17 South to Murrells Inlet. Turn left onto US 17 Bus. Murrells Inlet. Cedar Hill Landing is 4.1 miles on the left. |
Take Highway 174 toward Edisto Beach State Park. Approximately 12.1 miles from the Dawhoo Bridge there is a recycling center on left or 0.8 miles from the beach on right. Look for blue recycling signs. |
From Charleston take US 17 (Savannah Hwy) South. Turn left of 171 (Folly Rd.) for 4.5 miles. Turn left onto Fort Johnson Rd for 4.8 miles. Enter the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources gate and continue on main road and follow the oyster drop-off sign. The drop-off site is in the back of the grass field with a trailer and sign. |
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From Georgetown take US 17 N. Bear right onto Murrells Inlet US 17 Bus. Fire Station is 3.80 miles on the right. From Myrtle Beach take Myrtle Beach US 17 South to Murrells Inlet. Turn left onto US 17 Bus. Murrells Inlet. Fire station is 0.8 miles on the left. Trailer is behind fire station. |
Take US 17 N. toward Awendaw. Turn right on Seewee Rd. for 3.5 miles. Turn right on Bulls Island Rd and follow to the end. Drop-off site is in the left back corner of the parking lot near the restroom area. |
Huntington Beach
State Park/Murrells Inlet - From Georgetown take U.S. Highway 17 north toward Myrtle Beach. Approximately 7.0 miles north of Pawley’s Island, past Brookgreen Gardens turn right on to dirt road marked “Oyster Shell Recycling”. Shell recycling drop-off is 0.1 miles on the right. |
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Take 642/Drochester Rd. N. Turn left onto Ladson Rd. Follow Ladson Rd. for 0.6 miles. Enter Jessen Landing. Drop-off site is to the right near the fence of the parking lot as you enter. |
Take US 17 N. to McClellanville. Turn right onto 45/S. Pickney St. Merge onto Pickney St. Turn right at town hall. Drop-off site is on the right near the fire tower. |
From Mt. Pleasant, Highway 17 N. 0.8 miles past Isle of Palms Connector, turn right onto Six Mile Road before Laing Middle School. Take Six Mile Road for 0.25 miles and turn right into Mount Pleasant Public Works Facility. Shell recycling drop-off is on left. Hours of operation: 7 AM to 4:30PM weekdays except holidays. |
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Highway 21 south from Beaufort 16 miles to Hunting Island. Before Bridge to Fripp Island turn right onto county dirt road. Shell recycling drop-off is 0.3 Miles on left. |
On Highway 21 Heading north from Beaufort, turn left onto Shanklin road. Shanklin road is approximately 0.6 miles north of the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station Main Gate. Follow Shanklin road for 0.75 miles to Beaufort County Public Works Department. Turn right into solid waste recycling center. Ask attendant for key and directions to shell recycling drop-off. Hours of operation: 7AM to 7PM seven days per week. |
Take Coleman Blv. Toward Sullivan’s Island. Before the Ben Sawyer Bridge on the right hand side of the road is Simmons Seafood Market. A green Department of Natural Resource Recycling Dump Trailer is located behind the Seafood Market. Normal Business Hours Only. Call Simmons Seafood and Catering – 1557 Ben Sawyer Blv. 884-4355 for more information. |
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Take Ribaut Road (SC Highway 802) west Towards Port Royal and Parris Island approximately 4.0 miles. Turn left onto Paris Ave. for 0.7 miles, then left behind Port Royal Town Hall onto 7th Street. At stop sign, go straight across onto Sands Beach Rd. Shell recycling drop-off is 0.3 miles on the left
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Waccamaw - Take Highway 17 North through Georgetown. Before the Waccamaw river bridge, turn left toward the Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation pier. Shell recycling drop off site is located approximately 0.3 miles on right. Look for blue recycling signs. |
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Leaving Charleston, take Highway 61( St. Andrews Blvd.) Approximately 1.8 miles from the Ashley River Bridges, a Recycling Drop Off trailer is located approximately 0.2 on the right hand side of the road-before the fork of 171 and 61. 1000 St. Andrews Blvd. (Charleston Outdoor Catering-Jamie Westerndorf) 769-6889 |
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The SCDNR would like to recognize and express our appreciation to the following companies and organizations for their support in this effort so far:
South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Beaufort County Department of Public Works
ACE Basin Field Station
ACE Basin/Donnelly WMA
Charleston Outdoor Catering
Ben Moise and John Laroche
Bishop and Sons Plumbing and Piping, Inc.
The Town of Mount Pleasant
The Town of McClellanville
Town of Port Royal
Carolina Seafoods, Inc.
Related Links
- Oyster Recycling Photo Gallery
- South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement (S.C.O.R.E.)
- "Sea Science" Oysters and Clams
(Adobe PDF)
The Oyster Shell Recycling Program coordinates with oyster roast caterers and local restaurants to pick up larger quantities of shucked shell when practical to add to the DNR stockpiles.
For further information about oyster shell recycling, please call Andy Jennings, Oyster Shell Recycling Program Coordinator; (843) 953-9396 or Jason Comer, Program Assistant (843) 953-9397 you may contact the Program by e-mail at jenningsa@dnr.sc.gov or comerj@dnr.sc.gov.
The files and maps listed above that have the Adobe Icon by it, indicate the files are in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a
free download from the Adobe® Web site.
Marine Resources Division
P O Box 12559, 217 Ft. Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29422-2559
(843) 953-9300