Out of four hypotheses, our survey results fully supported one hypothesis and partially supported one hypothesis. As predicted, people who already participate in recycling at home were more likely to support oyster shell recycling initiatives (Table 7). This finding is in line with previous human dimensions studies of restaurant waste mitigation initiatives, which found that engaging in pro-environmental behavior at home (such as recycling) is correlated with positive attitudes towards restaurant waste mitigation initiatives (Filimonau et al. 2020). 

 

Our hypothesis that oyster consumers would be more aware of and supportive of oyster shell recycling initiatives was partially supported, as only the awareness aspect was significantly higher among oyster consumers. Oyster consumers indicated more awareness of the benefits of oyster shell recycling (Table 5), however, both oyster consumers and non-consumers reported a similar level of support for restaurants that recycle shells (Table 6).

 

We hypothesized that people who engage in outdoor recreation are more likely to support oyster shell recycling, however, we did not find a significant relationship between these aspects when tested (Table 4). Interestingly, we did find a significant relationship between ranking “recreation” as an important coastal use and increased agreement with the statement “I want oyster shells to be recycled” (Table 2), as well a significant relationship between ranking “fisheries” as an important coastal use and increased likelihood of eating at a restaurant that recycles their shells (Table 3). Overall, we considered "recreation" and "fisheries" as indicators of a naturalistic typology within Kellert’s (1980) natural resources typologies. While participation in outdoor recreation activities was not linked to greater support for oyster shell recycling, we found that a stronger alignment with the naturalistic typology was significantly associated with increased support for oyster shell recycling.

 

Finally, our hypothesis that greater proximity to the coast would lead to increased support for oyster shell recycling was not supported by our survey results (Table 1). However, since most respondents were from only two regions, a larger sample from a wider range of coastal and inland states would provide more robust data, potentially altering the results.

 

Future research should emphasize the issue of awareness for oyster shell recycling. When asked about barriers, 55% of respondents indicated that they are unaware of oyster shell recycling, and 54% were unsure of which places recycle oyster shells (Figure 8). Increasing awareness of this recycling option will be key in boosting support and participation, as previous studies suggest that greater environmental knowledge increases the likelihood of individuals choosing restaurants that engage in waste mitigation efforts (Filimonau et al. 2020).

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