Pender County residents recycling oysters

PENDER COUNTY — Many of us love a good oyster, but the more we eat – the more we take away from the oyster reefs.

Oysters and other species rely on oyster reefs to live and we all need them for clean water.

There is something we can do to help replenish the reefs: recycle oyster and clam shells. And in Pender County this trend is catching on.

It’s a common activity for Joe Diana — each year he recycles more than 15 bushels of oysters. He said, “I’m recycling some oysters today for the environment, for the future so my kids can have oysters.”

Local business owner Teresa Morgan shares Joe’s vision. That’s why she allows her store to be an oyster shell recycling drop off spot. Morgan said, “Here in Hampstead we’re known for eating a lot of oysters and we want to help re-nourish the waterways so the oysters have a place to reattach to.”

The recycling process starts when you drop off your oyster and clam shells at a recycling center then volunteers pick up the shells and take them to the stockpile. From here at the stockpile, some of the shells are bagged and returned to our local water ways to help replenish the oyster reefs.

Pender Watch and Conservancy Vice President Jack Spruill said, “The general process of throwing shells in the water absolutely is working — oyster men say they can go behind the shells and see a tremendous amount of oysters in the shells.”

Spruill says oyster have many benefits: thief reefs serve as a habitat to smaller creatures and a single oyster can pump up to 50 gallons of water a day. He said, “They are filter feeders they take their food out of the water and separate out the undesirable particles in the water, so the oysters have a tremendous role in cleaning up our waters.”

But according to Diana oyster shell recycling is not just about taking care of the environment. He wants to make sure his favorite food is here to stay. “We have our oysters and when we’re all done we recycle them here so the following year and the years to come so we’ll have more oysters and the oyster roast will never end,” he said.

For more information on recycling oyster shells and to find the closest recycling center near you call 1-800-682-2632 or visit http://www.ncdmf.net/.