Media Contacts
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Vanessa Billy
Communications Manager
The Nature Conservancy Australia
Phone: 0478 638 180
Email: vanessa.billy@tnc.org
The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC) is excited to partner with Melbourne-based social enterprise B-Alternative to bring beloved shell recycling initiative Shuck Don’t Chuck back on the road.
“We are delighted to partner with B-Alternative and resume Shuck Don’t Chuck activities after a long Covid hiatus,” Simon Branigan, TNC’s Marine Restoration Lead, said.
Shuck Don’t Chuck is TNC’s shell recycling initiative, which collects used oyster, mussel and scallop shells from restaurants, venues and seafood wholesalers and recycles them as a key component of TNC’s shellfish reef restoration projects.
“Equally exciting as part of the new partnership is that we now use a hybrid truck to collect shells from partner venues,” Mr Branigan said.
“We want to thank all our partner venues for their patience and support while we were getting logistics organised in a post-Covid era and can’t wait to resume shell collection with the new branded truck,” he said.
“We believe there is tremendous potential for the program,” Tim Landells, Impact Manager of B-Alternative, said.
“In addition to supporting reef restoration and the diversion of waste from landfill, we want to change the perception that doing something environmentally friendly is always more expensive than business as usual. In fact, increasing landfill levies makes diverting waste from landfill more appealing than ever, for both environmental and financial reasons,” Mr Landells said.
Collected shells from partner venues are ‘cured’ by laying them out in the elements for at least six months, to kill any potential disease pathogens.
When they’re ready they are included in the shellfish reef restoration process as new reef base or bagged up and placed in hatchery tanks where juvenile oysters are added to attach to the shell surface. Shells and juvenile oysters are then placed onto restored reefs in a process known as “seeding” where they can begin a new life as a new shellfish reef habitat.
If you would like to know more about Shuck Don’t Chuck, please visit: Shuck Don't Chuck: shell recycling project (natureaustralia.org.au)
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organisation dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we focus on getting things done efficiently and with the greatest positive impact for conservation. We’re a trusted organisation working in more than 70 countries and territories around the world on innovative solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Australia, follow us on Facebook.