Bayou Restaurant Recycles 500-Plus Pounds Of Oyster Shells

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A Havre de Grace restaurant was recently recognized by Harford County for its creative approach to reducing waste. The Bayou Restaurant was one of two businesses presented with the 2017 Business Recycling and Waste Reduction Awards. Harford County and Maryland Environmental Service presented the awards.

The Bayou Restaurant has recycled more than 500 pounds of oyster shells, according to Harford County officials.

The oyster shells were taken to the Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, which is run by the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science.

At the laboratory, baby oysters were put in the shells, which officials said were later released into the Chesapeake Bay. There, they help purify the water; a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day, as they feed by pumping water through their bodies, trapping sediment, chemicals and nutrients.

Over-harvesting of oysters as well as disease and habitat loss have led to a reduction in the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay, which has prompted an effort to create oyster sanctuaries.

In addition to The Bayou, Harford County and Maryland Environmental Service awarded Fawn View Manor Farm for its waste reduction efforts. The Pylesville operation that encompasses a 200-cow dairy and crop farming operation has recycled 600,000 feet of agricultural plastic, according to county officials. The white plastic wrap is used to contain winter feed for cattle.

This was the third year for Harford County's presentation of its Business Recycling and Waste Reduction awards. The recognition is designed to promote environmental conservation through promotion of organizations that have conducted recycling and waste reduction programs.

Pictured from left: Wendy Doring, Recycling Program Manager, Maryland Environmental Service; Roy McGrath, director/CEO of Maryland Environmental Service; Lou Ward, owner of The Bayou Restaurant; Harford County Executive Barry Glassman; Steve Tomczewski, managing director of environmental operations for Maryland Environmental Service; Janet Archer, owner of Fawn View Manor Farms; James Archer, owner of Fawn View Manor Farms; Mary Stewart, owner of Fawn View Manor Farms, with six-month-old Thomas Stewart; Jeff Schoenberger, administrator of Harford County Public Works. Front and center from left are the Stewart children: Zachary, 3, Bradley, 3, and Abigail, 5. Photo courtesy of Harford County.

Patch file photo of The Bayou.