Your ShellS Become New York City’s Reefs.

Billion Oyster Project grows oyster reefs using shells collected from our restaurant partners. Give us the shells that you would have discarded, and we’ll work with thousands of passionate local volunteers, students, and scientists to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor. 

 

HOW IT WORKS

Rather than discard the shells of oysters consumed at your restaurant, shells are set aside for recycling

1. Billion Oyster Project provides shell collection buckets for convenient storage

2. Our Shell Collection operator, The Lobster Place, empties your buckets (Monday through Friday) on a schedule that fits your needs.

3. The shells are dumped at a curing site, like the one pictured below on Governors Island. The shells are exposed to wind, rain, insects, and more for one year until they are clean enough to re-enter New York Harbor.

 

Our Restaurant Partners

Through our work with restaurants, Billion Oyster Project hosts educational dining events throughout the year. Follow us on Instagram, for event updates! 

Upcoming Events

Stay up to date on oyster socials and other educational dining experiences with our partner restaurants.