The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) after operating in New Orleans for ten years, has expanded its oyster shell recycling program to Baton Rouge. This initiative aims to combat coastal erosion by using recycled oyster shells to rebuild and strengthen Louisiana’s fragile coastlines. Spokesperson James Karst says oyster shells are a critical component in creating new oyster reefs, which act as natural barriers against storm surges and help restore marine habitats.
“Oysters that were pulled out the water in Louisiana were being sent to landfills instead of put back in the water where they do a lot of good.”
CRCL’s program has recycled more than 14-million-pounds of used oyster shells from restaurants, cleans them, and returns them to the water to form new reefs. Karst says the expansion to Baton Rouge allows more restaurants and residents to participate in the program, further increasing the supply of shells for coastal restoration projects.
“We work with about 30 restaurants in New Orleans right now, and starting very soon, staring I think the first pick up day is September fourth we’ll be expanding to Baton Rouge.”
The expansion to Baton Rouge marks a significant step in scaling up the program to preserve its coastline for future generations. Karst says this initiative is crucial for Louisiana, where the coastline is rapidly disappearing due to erosion, and the impact of hurricanes.
“This shell that would have otherwise gone to a landfill where it was just squandered, but when you put it pack into the water it creates habitat, lowers the rate of erosion, it helps to absorb storm surge during hurricanes. Really a number of good things it does when it goes back in the water.”
For more information on how restaurants can participate in the oyster shell recycling program visit CRCL-dot-org
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