Georgetown County pilots oyster shell recycling with SCORE to rebuild reefs and cut landfill waste

Rodney Butler of Georgetown County’s stormwater department described an effort to collect locally produced oyster shells and reuse them to rehabilitate oyster populations and reduce landfill volume. "Oyster shells don't decompose in the landfill," Butler said, adding that the county often had to import shells despite local consumption.

The county plans to work with the South Carolina Oyster Recycling (SCORE) program and local partners, including Murrells Inlet 20/20 and the watershed committee, to place collection stations and build coconut‑husk baskets that serve as nursery substrate and help reduce shoreline erosion. Butler said staff plan to quarantine collected shells at a portion of the county landfill to let organic material decay and remove trash before SCORE collects them for nursery construction.

An intern, Kiana Shibler, developed a public survey to gauge interest and identify optimal collection locations. Butler said the survey will be posted on the county website (gtcounty.org) and social channels; staff hoped it would be live by early April. The program anticipates volunteer days to collect shells and build baskets, plus public outreach to restaurants and seafood businesses.

Butler framed the program as both an environmental restoration and cost‑saving measure: retaining locally generated shells could reduce the county’s need to purchase out‑of‑state material for reef projects. County staff invited residents and business owners to complete the survey once it is published.