Wellfleet Shell Recycling 2021
Over the summer of 2021, a lot less trash was dumped in Cape landfills. Working with Town of Wellfleet, we wrapped up our oyster shell recycling program on Labor Day. The program recycled over 25,000 pounds of oyster shell over the course of the summer.
“We’re thrilled at how this summer went,” said Sarah Valencik, President of the Massachusetts Oyster Project. “Our staff and volunteers did great, and we couldn’t have done this without our local partners. We’ve taken a huge step to not only keep shells out of landfills, but those recycled shells will then go towards building reefs along the shores of Wellfleet.”
The program was funded through 11th Hour Racing’s Ambassador program, led by a community of marine industry professionals committed to advancing ocean health.
"It is fantastic to see how well the shell collection works and how enthusiastic the team and restaurant partners are about the program. With the success of this pilot program, I look forward to seeing it continue and turned into a model for other communities to implement as well," noted Cory Silken, 11th Hour Racing Ambassador.
Shell Recycling
Restaurants across Wellfleet diverted oyster shells from their regular trash to special containers. Massachusetts Oyster Project staff and volunteers collected those containers four times per week, dumping them in a special oyster shell collection site managed by the Town of Wellfleet’s Shellfish Department and Transfer Station.
Next up, the shells will age for a year, where wind and weather will naturally clean them. After that, the town will spread the shells around Wellfleet Harbor to create juvenile oyster habitat.
Oyster’s effects on the environment
Wild oysters naturally grow in clusters. The best surface for baby oysters, called spat, to grow on is other oyster shells. By depositing oyster shells in intertidal areas of Wellfleet Harbor, we create a favorable environment for oyster clusters to develop. It can take about three years for a wild oyster to reach the legal harvest size of three inches, and these rows of shell and clusters of growing oysters often take the form of a low profile reef.
Oyster reefs were once the bedrock of the Massachusetts coastline. Each oyster can purify up to 50 gallons of water per day. Reefs provide homes for other marine species, increasing biodiversity. When reefs grow large enough, they can serve as protective barriers for shorelines. They protect from the powerful waves generated by storms and natural weathering processes.
Read more about the benefits of recycling
Oysters and Wellfleet
Oysters also contribute to the Wellfleet economy and culture. In 2019, Wellfleet was first in the state for the value of its oyster landings (wholesale sales), and shellfishing is the biggest year-round industry for the town, representing more than $7.7M in local income and providing jobs for 10 percent of its residents.
“We are thrilled to see how many oyster shells were recycled through this pilot project,” said Town of Wellfleet Shellfish Constable Nancy Civetta. “We see such value in these types of creative partnerships because they allow us to accomplish things for our shellfish nursery program that we would not be able to achieve otherwise. We are grateful to Mass Oyster Project, 11th Hour Racing and Wellfleet’s restaurants for helping us increase the amount of nursery habitat we will be able to create in Wellfleet Harbor next year!”