Oyster Shell Recycling

Giving Oyster Shells a Second Life

What happens to an oyster shell after the meal is over? In North Myrtle Beach, that shell can become part of a new oyster reef instead of ending up in the landfill.

Oyster reefs are an important part of South Carolina's coastal ecosystems. Adult oysters can filter up to 2.5 gallons of water per hour, while oyster reefs provide habitat for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other marine life. Reefs also act as natural breakwaters, helping absorb wave energy and protect marsh shorelines from erosion. Most importantly, young oysters need a hard surface, ideally another oyster shell, to attach and grow. Recycling oyster shell helps provide the material needed to support future oyster habitat.

South Carolina has a critical shortage of oyster shell for restoration. SCDNR's Oyster Recycling and Restoration Program works to recover this valuable resource and return it to South Carolina's estuaries, where new oysters can attach to the recycled shell and grow.

Protecting Oyster Habitat

Thriving Oyster Reef

Coastal Marsh Wildlife

From Restaurant to Reef

Horry County Stormwater is building on these statewide efforts through its Oyster Shell Recycling Pilot Program, which is being introduced to local restaurants to capture oyster shells before they become trash. The goal is to make shell recycling a practical part of restaurant operations while creating a local supply of shell for future manufactured wire reef projects and other restoration efforts.

For participating restaurants, the process starts with separating clean oyster shells from other waste. The shell is then collected and enters the appropriate recycling and curing process. SCDNR requires freshly shucked shell to be quarantined for at least six months before it can be returned to South Carolina waters. This helps remove potential invasive species and harmful diseases. Once properly aged, the shell can be used for oyster habitat and restoration.

Horry County is also using recycled shell in manufactured wire reefs, which provide structure for oysters while supporting water filtration, habitat creation, erosion control, and overall ecosystem health. The County's manufactured wire reef work is being carried out in collaboration with Stormwater crews, community partners, students, and SCDNR's SCORE program.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

South Carolina Oyster Recycling Program

Living Oyster Reef

Working Together

Oyster shell recycling in North Myrtle Beach is a community effort, with each partner contributing to a different part of the process.

Horry County Stormwater coordinates the local restaurant pilot program and is working directly with businesses to establish oyster shell collection. The County is developing the program around existing restaurant workflows to make participation as simple as possible.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' SCORE Program provides the expertise behind oyster shell recycling and community-based oyster restoration. SCORE brings together SCDNR biologists and community members to recycle shell, build oyster habitat, and monitor restoration projects.

Destination North Myrtle Beach is helping connect the Horry County Stormwater to the North Myrtle Beach business community. Destination NMB is reaching out to local restaurants, explaining how the oyster shell recycling program works, answering questions, and encouraging more businesses to participate.

Boardwalk Billy's is leading the way as the first restaurant to join Horry County's Oyster Shell Recycling Pilot Program. Its participation provides a local example of how restaurants can help keep oyster shells out of the waste stream and contribute to coastal restoration. Read the WBTW story about Boardwalk Billy's participation.

Together, these efforts connect North Myrtle Beach's restaurants and community to a larger restoration process that returns a valuable resource to our waterways.

Horry County, (SC) - Class Specification Bulletin

North Myrtle Beach Chamber changes name to ‘Destination NMB’

Oyster Roast for the Coast

Oyster Roast For The Coast

Oyster shell recycling also comes to life through Oyster Roast for the Coast, hosted by Destination North Myrtle Beach and the North Myrtle Beach Chamber Foundation at Boardwalk Billy's. The annual event brings residents and visitors together to enjoy oysters, Lowcountry favorites and live entertainment while learning about coastal conservation. Most importantly, the oyster shells from the event are recycled rather than discarded.

The impact continues after the event. Shell collected through the 2025 and 2026 Oyster Roast for the Coast events has supported oyster restoration in Dunne Sound near Cherry Grove. During restoration efforts, volunteers, elected officials, board members, and community partners helped install 50 manufactured wire reefs using recycled oyster shells.

Together, these reefs support more than 350,000 oysters and help filter an estimated 17.5 million gallons of water every day. Oyster reefs also provide habitat for marine life, improve water quality, and help strengthen the surrounding coastal ecosystem.

Recycling Oyster Shells for Restoration

Enjoying Fresh Local Oysters

Supporting Sustainable Seafood

Get Involved

Residents & Visitors

Have clean oyster shells left over from a meal or oyster roast? Recycle them instead of throwing them away.

Bring clean oyster shells only to the SCDNR oyster shell recycling drop-off:

559 Sea Mountain Hwy.
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

The SCDNR trailer is located in the vacant parking lot across from Point Marsh Lane. Please keep trash, plastic, food waste, and other materials out of the recycling bin. Do not place freshly shucked shells directly into South Carolina waters or remove recycled shell from collection sites.

Restaurants & Businesses

Serve oysters? Help put those shells back to work.

Horry County Stormwater is inviting local restaurants to participate in the Oyster Shell Recycling Pilot Program. Participating restaurants can help keep oyster shells out of the waste stream and provide shell for future coastal restoration.

Interested in participating? Complete the Horry County Oyster Shell Recycling Interest Form. Horry County Stormwater will follow up with information about the program and the next steps for participation.

Community Partners Restoring Oyster Reefs