An official website of the State of Georgia.
Posted December 1st, 2025
Coastlines Georgia | December 2025 | Vol. 8, Iss. 3
Marine biologist Cameron Brinton uses a front-end loader to prepare the Montgomery Cross Road shell recycling station in Savannah for a new collection bin on Oct. 8.
Cameron Brinton
Marine Biologist
As part of the multi-partner We Recycle Shell initiative, CRD has opened two new public oyster shell recycling centers and refurbished an existing site in Savannah.
New recycling centers are now open at the North River Boat Ramp in Camden County and the South Newport River Boat Ramp in McIntosh County.
In addition, the recycling station on East Montgomery Cross Road in Savannah has been upgraded through a partnership between DNR and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Georgia.
The We Recycle Shell program is a statewide partnership dedicated to collecting used oyster shells from restaurants, community events, and the public to support oyster reef restoration projects along Georgia’s coast. Recycled shells provide the hard surface young oysters need to attach and grow, creating new reefs that improve water quality, stabilize shorelines, and provide critical habitat for fish and crabs.
“Every oyster shell that’s recycled helps grow a healthier coast,” said Cameron Brinton, a CRD marine biologist who coordinated the recycling centers. “These new centers make it easier than ever for residents to return their shells and play a role in restoring Georgia’s oyster reefs.”
The new drop-off locations are available to the public seven days a week for disposal of trash free, shell-only materials. The collected shells will be cured and later used in oyster reef restoration projects.
New Shell Recycle Locations
North River Boat Ramp
I-95 Exit 3 East on GA HWY 40 towards St. Mary’s (approximately 8.5 miles). Turn left on Meeting St. East and the ramp is at the end of the road.
South Newport River Boat Ramp
I-95 Exit 67 south on U.S. HWY 17 for 0.5 miles. Bear to the left on old U.S. HWY 17 (now ramp access road).
Montgomery Cross Rd. Savannah
Intersection of Thomas Ave and Montgomery Cross Rd.
To learn more about shell recycling locations and how to participate and how these shells help Coastal Georgia, visit WeRecycleShell.com or CoastalGaDNR.org/HERU. To view photos of the new recycling stations, visit CoastalGaDNR.SmugMug.com.
