San Antonio oyster shells recycled to rebuild Gulf reefs and marine habitat

What happens to oyster shells after the meal is over? Along the Texas coast, discarded shells from restaurants, festivals and community events are being given a second life as building material for oyster reefs. The effort is helping support marine ecosystems while keeping thousands of oyster shells out of the waste stream.In San Antonio, the South Texas Coastal Initiative (STCI) is collecting oyster shells and sending them to Sink Your Shucks, an oyster shell recycling program operated by Texas A&M University and the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi. The recycled shells are then used to help restore oyster reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, providing habitat for marine life and helping improve water quality.Turning oyster waste into reef restorationThe scale of the effort becomes particularly clear during San Antonio’s Fiesta Oyster Bake.