Turning Trash into Treasure through Oyster Shell Recycling

Oyster shells, often regarded as trash, are actually useful for restoring oyster reefs and enhancing marine ecology. Airport Authority (AA) has been working with The Nature Conservancy on a project since 2021 to recycle oyster shells for use in restoring oyster reefs along the newly built seawall for the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport. It aims to improve the biodiversity and fishery resources in the waters near the Third Runway and to protect shorelines.

The project team collects discarded and cleaned oyster shells from participating hotels and restaurants weekly. After sorting and natural weathering, which removes any organic materials to avoid the risk of spreading diseases or parasites in the water, they are transported to designated sites to form the substrate for new reefs, including areas near the North Runway and Tolo Harbour.

With continued funding support by AA’s Marine Ecology and Enhancement Fund since 2021, the project scale has been enlarged from five participating restaurants to 15 hotels and restaurants, with an expected collection of 50 tonnes of shells in 2024, further reducing waste while conserving the coastal environment.