Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration - CORR
When you think about recycling, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the large blue bin that you throw your plastic, glass, and cardboard into? Is it the fun phrase you learned growing up - “reduce, reuse, recycle?” Or maybe it’s just that you know you're doing something positive for the environment. Whatever it is - I’m sure your first thought isn’t oysters. Yes, you heard me right, oysters!
In a previous blog, we discussed some of the amazing work of Aquaculture in Connecticut, but we’re not going to stop there! Today, we’re here to highlight Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration - CORR, an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating shell recycling statewide and supporting oyster restoration projects in Long Island Sound.
We were lucky enough to connect with Tim Macklin, CO-Founder of Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration - CORR to hear all about their mission, how it all began, and how we as the community can help them in their journey ahead.
Small Restoration Project, Recycled Shell Plant in Ash Creek, Fairfield, CT
Tim explains that oyster and clam shells, being natural resources, are imperative to the building and restoring of oyster habitats. Sadly, almost all of the shells from oysters and clams that are eaten at restaurants get thrown away and dumped into landfills. Their mission is to reduce this waste by recycling these shells to help improve and restore the local marine environment.
Tim states, “Our goal is to divert as much shell from landfills and get it all back into Long Island Sound. Shell recycling and oyster habitat restoration helps to improve the overall health of Long Island Sound.” Since the start of this program in July 2023, they have collected over 240,000 pounds of shells - that’s over 2 million shells that go back into Long Island Sound to restore oyster habitat. Wow!
The Process of Oysters Growing On Recycled Clam & Oyster Shells!
How Did It All Get Started?
The individuals at CORR are also members of the Fairfield Shellfish Commission and about nine years ago, they started a small pilot recycling program. They found great success in this program and decided to expand throughout the state, resulting in CORR-Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration in 2023. Thanks to the grant from the CT Department of Agriculture, they were able to provide Connecticut with its first-ever multicounty shell recycling program!
How Can the Community Help Support?
Donate, duh! This shell recycling program is completely free to all restaurants and seafood businesses who participate! Due to this, Tim states that one of the biggest challenges they face is keeping this program funded. They rely on grants and donations to keep the organization running as the work requires equipment, fuel, outreach, and labor. Any extra donation counts towards keeping this amazing program alive! Donations can be made at their website www.corr-ct.org. All donations are tax-deductible as they are a 501(c)(3) organization
Come to the 50th Annual Milford Oyster Festival this summer on Saturday, 8/17! Enjoy delicious Connecticut oysters and check out their shell recycling informational booth next to the oyster shucking tent!
Next time someone talks about recycling, I hope your mind shifts to the innovative work that Collective Oyster Recycling & Restoration- CORR is doing. This groundbreaking program is currently the only organization in Connecticut recycling shells, and the work being done is truly remarkable in more ways than one. Thank you CORR for all that you do!
