Reworld® Volunteers Support REACH to Restore Local Marine Ecosystems

Reworld®, a leader in sustainable waste solutions, recently partnered with REACH at Gold Star Battalion Beach for the fourth year. Led by REACH, in partnership with the Town of Huntington and Cornell Cooperative Extension, the project focuses on rebuilding oyster populations to improve the health of local waterways.

“When we restore oyster habitats, we’re simultaneously improving local water quality and investing in a more sustainable future,” said Maureen Early, Community Relations Manager at Reworld. “Our Reworld team is proud to support organizations that create lasting environmental change while bringing communities together around a shared purpose.”

Since its launch in 2022, REACH has grown into a community-wide restoration effort focused on rebuilding native oyster populations. The project has doubled its oyster production and tripled volunteer participation, with plans to grow its reefs into a broader network of sanctuaries. Two new reefs deployed in Huntington Harbor reflect that continued expansion. Native oyster reefs once flourished throughout Long Island’s waters before pollution and excessive harvesting caused significant declines. These restoration efforts are helping reverse that trend by rebuilding reef habitats that improve water quality and support marine biodiversity.

“We set out to bring oysters back to these waters, and this year shows how far that mission has come,” said Douglas Schmid, Education Chair & REACH Board Member of Huntington-Northport Oyster Reef Project. “Our oyster reefs are thriving with over 450,000 oysters grown and planted in our local waters. Every summer Reworld employees work on our nursery rafts to clean the juvenile oysters to promote their growth and collect data on growth and survivorship. The continued support from Reworld has made it possible for our volunteers to keep building on this work, and together we’re working for a future of cleaner local waters and a healthier marine ecosystem.”

The impact goes well beyond the reefs themselves. Oysters are natural water filters, capable of processing up to 50 gallons of water per day, and the habitats they form support a wide range of marine species. Hundreds of volunteers, backed by partners like Reworld, are what keep that system running. Reworld continues to invest in projects that strengthen both local communities and the environment throughout Long Island.

For more information about Reworld and its initiatives that support various community empowerment and environmental programs fostering positive change locally and globally, please visit www.reworldwaste.com.