Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are a delicacy consumed in restaurants all over the U.S. East Coast. In 2018, United States oyster aquaculture produced 44.7 million pounds of oysters, and the industry is expected to continue growing in the next decade (Posadas 2023). Beyond their value for consumption, oysters are considered ecosystem engineers, as they create reef habitat that broadly benefits coastal environments through several ecosystem services. Oysters can help to improve water quality; for example, oyster reef habitat promotes denitrification processes which can help to offset anthropogenic nitrogen increases in estuarine habitats (Piehler and Smyth 2011). Oyster reef habitat can also help to stabilize shorelines by creating a living breakwater that dissipates the force of incoming waves and stabilizes sediments to reduce erosion (Meyer et al. 1997). Another economically valuable ecosystem service provided by oyster reefs is increased habitat provisioning for other fish. Studies indicate that presence of oyster reef habitat enhances growth and abundance of at least 19 species of fish and large crustaceans (Peterson et al. 2003).​ Unfortunately, these ecosystem services are at risk. Oyster reef habitats have significantly declined, with an estimated 85% loss (Beck et al. 2011). Even though oyster reefs in the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts are healthier than many other parts of the world, providing over 75% of the global oyster catch, they have also experienced notable reductions (Beck et al. 2011). To help support sustainable oyster reef restoration, several cities in the U.S. have implemented oyster shell recycling programs. Shucked oyster shells are collected, stored, transported to the coast, and placed in bags along the coast to provide quality substrate for new oysters to grow on (Zangroniz et al., 2021).

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Opinions, attitudes, and behaviors related to oyster shell recycling have not been well studied. Zangroniz et al. (2021) identify a key challenge for oyster shell recycling programs: obtaining buy-in from stakeholders, particularly restaurants, which may be asked to assume additional responsibilities in collecting shells without receiving immediate, direct benefits to their business. Despite its importance, this issue and other facets of oyster shell recycling have not been further explored in peer-reviewed human dimensions literature. Consequently, research done on other forms of waste mitigation is necessary to provide insights into this topic.

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For instance, Filimonau et al. (2020) investigated consumer opinions and involvement regarding mitigating restaurant food waste in Poland. Their study examined how environmental knowledge, concern, and engagement in pro-environmental practices at home all shape attitudes and intentions toward food waste reduction in restaurant settings. They found that both environmental knowledge and concern significantly increased respondents’ likelihood to visit restaurants that engage in food waste mitigation. This study also found that engaging in pro-environmental behavior at home was significantly correlated with positive attitudes towards restaurant waste mitigation initiatives. These insights are relevant to oyster shell recycling programs, as our study aims to assess how concern for coastal issues, awareness of coastal restoration efforts, and awareness of oyster ecosystem services influence consumer support for these programs at restaurants. This work also supports our hypothesis that people who recycle at home, which is a pro-environmental behavior, are more likely to support oyster shell recycling programs when they dine out.

 

Typologies from Kellert (1980) help us to understanding the various motivations and perspectives regarding oyster shell recycling.

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1. Utilitarian Typology: Those with a utilitarian view will tend to focus on the practical benefits of oyster reefs. They likely support oyster shell recycling because it enhances food production and protects shorelines, both of which have direct economic and environmental value. However, some people with a utilitarian typology may not support oyster shell recycling programs if the burden of participating in the program exceeds the benefits that they receive.

2. Ecologistic Typology: Those with an ecologistic typology would view oyster reefs as integral components of a larger ecosystem. They support oyster shell recycling not only for the human benefits but also because it helps to maintain ecological balance. They recognize the ecosystem services provided by oyster reefs as a part of the overall ecosystem, therefore viewing recycling as a beneficial part of broader ecosystem management.

3. Naturalistic Typology: People who enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, or simply spending time on the coast may fall under the naturalistic typology. They would likely support oyster reef conservation and recycling initiatives due to a desire to protect the natural environment for recreational purposes. For them, maintaining healthy oyster reefs is important to preserve the beauty and stability of their recreational areas on the coast.

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