Seafood Shells (Hard) Alternative ways to recycle Backyard Composting Food Scrap Bucket or Drop Off Hard seafood shells take a long time to break down. Crush the shells into fine pieces and either compost them in your backyard, or through the curbside and drop-off program. Troy Resource Management Facility/Alamo Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 1pm with proof of residence. Alternative Ways to Recycle Compost Shells at Home Shells can be used as compost, soil additive or mulch. First, boil the shells to sterilize them. Next, crush the shells to increase their effectiveness in the soil. Sprinkle into your soil. Donate to Oyster Reef Restoration Empty oyster shells can be used to restore oyster reefs and support threatened oyster populations. Contact oyster reef restoration organizations such as Wild Oyster Project or Orange County Coastkeeper to see if they will take your oyster shells. Ways to Reuse Craft With Them Shells can be used to make beautiful crafts, such as these DIY oyster shell trinket dishes. Did You Know? Learn About Living Shorelines – Olympia Oyster Restoration
