Spartanburg Water participating in the SCORE program to help Recycle Oyster Shells
June 17, 2024
Statewide program collects and recycles oyster shells to benefit the South Carolina coast
Spartanburg Water is now only the second location in the Upstate to partner with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) for their South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) program.
The SCORE program collects and recycles oyster shells to improve both water quality and habitats along the South Carolina coast. Working with restaurants, area oyster roasts and volunteers, the program takes the oyster shells and helps to replenish oyster populations that have been previously harvested. Oyster larvae can settle in old oyster shells in oyster reefs, and using the nutrients from the shells, regrow into mature oysters.
“Oysters are an incredible resource for coastal areas by serving as both natural filters to improve water quality, as well as helping to prevent erosion along shorelines and providing a habitat for many other important species,” said Angela Viney, Commission Vice Chairperson for the Commission of Public Works for the City of Spartanburg. Ms. Viney helped foster the inception of the SCORE program at Spartanburg Water.
The Spartanburg Water oyster shell community collection area is located at the A. Manning Lynch Wastewater Treatment Facility, located at 1450 Southport Rd. in Spartanburg. A special collection hopper is located off the left side of the entrance to the facility, in front of the gate.
Restaurants and community members and organizations who host oyster roasts are encouraged to deposit their shells in the collection area. Oyster shell receptacles are available for any interested participant, and volunteers are needed to assist in shell collection and drop off at the Lynch facility.
For more information or to participate, please contact Meagan Roy, Spartanburg Water Watershed Management Coordinator, at (864) 592-2240 or [email protected].
About Spartanburg Water
Spartanburg Water, an industry leading utility, is comprised of Spartanburg Water System and Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District. It serves a population of more than 200,000 within Spartanburg County, as well as others in parts of Greenville, Union and Cherokee counties. With the help of its dedicated team of about 300 employees, each day it produces an average of 25 million gallons of drinking water and cleans 12 million gallons of reclaimed water for its customers and community. For more information on Spartanburg Water’s water quality efforts, visit us at spartanburgwater.org.
