County accepting shells to recycle

June 2, 2021

These oyster shells at Walton’s Seafood in Urbanna are going to be planted on the firm’s state-leased private oyster grounds. There is a Chesapeake Bay-wide effort encouraging the recycling of shells back into the bay. Shells act as a cultch or bed for growing oysters. The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors voted in May to approve the use of the Deltaville Convenience Center as a location where the public can bring shells for recycling. (Photo by Larry Chowning)

by Larry Chowning –

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS) approved the use of the Deltaville Convenience Center in Deltaville as a county-wide site for the recycling of oyster shells.

Pinetop District Supervisor Lud Kimbrough recommended that the county get involved in the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program (VOSRP) in an effort to get as many shells as possible planted back into Chesapeake Bay.

Oyster shells are scattered on the bottom of creeks and rivers to create a layer of cultch or a bed for the growing of oysters. VOSRP already has a partnership with four other cities and counties, said Kimbrough.

Assistant county administrator Betty Muncy said she had contacted Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA) that operates the Deltaville Convenience Center about starting the recycling program and she indicated that VPPSA had agreed to work with the county.

The Deltaville Convenience Center is at 42 Recycling Drive in Deltaville, which is off General Puller Highway behind the Chris Mart Citgo convenience store.