Oyster shells are becoming increasingly scarce. Through oyster shell recycling programs, shells that would typically be thrown away are saved and used in a variety of oyster restoration projects.
Following are lists of locations in Maryland and Virginia where you can drop off your oyster shells, as well as restaurants that participate in oyster shell recycling. These are not comprehensive, please check back as we add more.
Maryland Shell Drop-off Locations
Anglers Hunting Fishing
Near Sandy Point State Park
1456 Whitehall Road
Annapolis, MD
(SOS bin out front under the Anglers sign)
Annapolis Yacht Club
Sailing Center
6th St. and Severn, behind the Eastport Shell station
Annapolis, MD
Breezy Point Marina
5230 Breezy Point Road
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Philip Merrill Center
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD
(SOS Cage at Entrance to CBF)
Discovery Village
4800 Atwell Rd
Shady Side, MD
(Look for the Save Our Shell Cage
(SOS) outer parking lot)
Eastport Yacht Club
317 First Street
Annapolis, MD
Chesapeake Beach
May's Restaurant
5640 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
Severna Park, MD
Oak Grove Marina
Next to Yellowfin Restaurant
2820 Solomon's Island Rd, Suite A
Edgewater, MD 21037
(SOS Cage Upper Parking Lot)
Frederick, MD
Starbucks
573 Ritchie Hwy
Severna Park, MD 21146
(SOS Cage Rear Parking Lot)
Shady Side, MD
Virginia Shell Drop-off Locations
Brock Environmental Center
3663 Marlin Bay Drive
Virginia Beach, VA
As of now shells are being collected in orange bushel baskets by the dumpster. A small bin will be built soon in the same location. Gates are open to drive up to the bin from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. otherwise use walking path.
Captain Chuck-a-mucks Sandbar & Grill
21088 Marina Road
Carrollton, VA
Bin located to left of the building.
City of Norfolk Waste Management Facility
1176 Pineridge Road
Norfolk, VA
Please go to Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics. Open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Norfolk residents.
Devils Backbone Brewery
200 Mosbys Run
Roseland, VA
Bin located all the way to the right, behind the building.
Fredericksburg Food Co-op
320 Emancipation Highway
Fredericksburg, VA
Bin location details: 50 gallon plastic barrel with shell recycling signs and stickers on/near it. Located outside the front door of the Co-op.
Friends of the Rappahannock
531 N Church Lane
Tappahannock, VA
Friends of the Rappahannock Headwaters Office
3219 Fall Hill Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA
Bin location details: Bin was taken away due to unwanted trash. Please speak to staff on the upper level of the building.
Great Bridge High School
301 Hanbury Road West
Chesapeake, VA
Bin is located in front of the school, off bypass road next to the chain link fence—near bus parking.
Do not drop off shells around 3:40 p.m. when school lets out! (Or you'll have a tough time getting in/out)
James City County Recycling Center
185 Industrial Boulevard
Toano, VA
James City County Recycling Center
105 Tewning Road (off Ironbound Road)
Williamsburg, VA
Keep Norfolk Beautiful, Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center
3500 A Granby Street
Norfolk, VA
From Granby Street, take the Zoo entrance and then the first left all the way to the end to the Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center. The shell bin is to the right of the building against the fence.
Kilmarnock Recycling Center
248 White Pine Drive, Weems
Lancaster, VA
Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Larchmont Library
6525 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA
Bin located under the Birdsong Wetlands kiosk. Please call 757-441-1347 when shells are dropped off.
Machodoc Creek Marina
17088 Ferry Dock Road
King George, VA
Bin location details: 50 gallon plastic barrel with shell recycling signs and stickers on/near it. On the right when you pull into the marina.
Mariners Museum
100 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA
Bin located in the first parking lot to the right.
Old Donation School
4633 Honeygrove Road
Virginia Beach, VA
The shell bin is located in the rear of the school behind a black fence.
Pammy's Produce
715 S Church Lane
Tappahannock, VA
Bin location details: Located behind the building by the back door. 50 gallon plastic barrel with shell recycling signs and stickers on/near it.
Reedville Fishermen's Museum
504 Main Street
Reedville, VA
Bin location details: 50 gallon plastic barrel with shell recycling signs and stickers on/near it. When you walk into the RFM courtyard, it is to the left of the pavilion.
Sam Rust Seafood
620 Regional Drive
Hampton, VA
Bin is located in the parking lot to the far right.
Smithfield Station
409 S. Church Street
Smithfield, VA
Bin is located in front of the restaurant.
Urbanna Town Marina
210 Oyster Road
Urbanna, VA
Bin location details: Large wooden bin with shell recycling sign on it. On the left when you pull into the marina.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
1219 Franklin Road
Gloucester Point, VA
Shells can be left in orange bushel baskets by shell washer.
William & Mary Campus
Tennis Court, off Ironbound Road
Williamsburg, VA
Bin is located near the Alexander Galt House and Munford Hall.
Map
Participating Maryland Restaurants
Annapolis
Annapolis Yacht Club Clubhouse
Frederick
Liberty Road Seafood & Steak
May's Restaurant
Shuckin' Shack
Galesville
Pirates Cove Restaurant
Severna Park
Brian Boru Restaurant & Pub
Participating Virginia Restaurants
Carrollton
Captain Chuck-A-Muck's
The Virginia Company
Charlottesville
Devil's Backbone Brewing Company
Chesapeake
Black Pelican
The Butcher's Son
Joe's Crab Shack
Kelly's Tavern
Off the Hook
Pirate's Cove Restaurant
Red Bones
Surf Rider - Greenbriar
Surf Rider - Western Branch
Chester
Riptide's
Colonial Beach
Drift
Fredericksburg
The Confident Rabbit
Ristorante Renato
Gloucester
York River Oyster Company
Hampton
Baker's Wife
Crabtown Raw Bar and Grill
The Deadrise
Fuller's Raw Bar
Paradise Ocean Club at Fort Monroe
Pour Girls Bar & Grill
Surf Rider Bluewater
Taphouse
Hayes
Mobjack Tavern
Irvington
Dredge
The Fishhawk at the Tides Inn
Hope & Glory Inn
Salt & Meadow at the Tides Inn
Newport News
Crab Shack
Fin Seafood
Hoss's Deli & Oyster Bar
Schooners Grill
Whole Foods (12080 Jefferson Avenue)
Norfolk
A.W. Shucks
Big Easy Oyster Bar and Grill
Coach House
Mack's Barge
Saltine
Shiptown
Smalls Smokehouse and Oyster Bar
Supper Southern Morsels
Todd Jurich's Bistro
Poquoson
Surf Rider Poquoson
Reedville
Reedville Market
Richmond
Live Crawfish & Seafood Restaurant (Broad Street)
Live Crawfish & Seafood Restaurant (Midlothian Turnpike)
Smithfield
Captain Chuck-a-muck's
Smithfield Station Waterfront Dining Restaurant
Suffolk
Riverstone Chophouse
Surry
Surry Seafood Company
Urbanna
Something Different
Half Shell Grill
Virginia Beach
The Butchers Son
Cavalier
Chick's Oyster Bar
Coastal Grill
Cypress Point Surf Rider
Fish Bones Restaurant
Heirloom
HK on the Bay
Hot Tuna
Nautilus
Quemar
Tin Cup (Delta Mariott)
Tradewinds
Zoe's Steak & Seafood
Williamsburg
Aberdeen Barn
Berret's Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill
Bonefish Grill
Captain George's
Christiana Campbell's Tavern
The Corner Pocket
Craft
James Landing Grill
Le Yaca
Peking Chinese Restaurant
Tuscany Ristorante
Waypoint Grill
Yorktown
Holy Mackerel
Riverwalk
Water Street Grill
Yorktown Pub
Oyster Recovery Partnership Sites
Shells at the sites below are collected by the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
last updated January 2022