August 23, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 33 . . Shell Recycling Effort Continues FROM PAGE 32 ducting public outreach and education in their quest to protect the environment, preserve heritage and share knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay. Over the past decade, the Partnership has planted more than 4 billion oysters back into the Bay on more than 1,500 acres of oyster reefs and recycled an estimated 1,200 tons of shell. In addition to its large-scale oyster restoration activities, ORP operates the widely popular Shell Recycling Alliance, supports the Marylanders Grow Oysters program and provides aquaculture and wild fishery support services. Hundreds of restaurants, caterers and seafood wholesalers through Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania help restore the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster habitat by recycling their used shells. A long list of participating restaurants located as close as Dewey and Rehoboth in Delaware, Cambridge and Ocean City in Maryland, and now the newest partnering restaurant is Brew River in Salisbury. Besides partnering businesses the public can do their part by recycling oyster shells by dropping them off at participating shell drop off stations. Businesses and individuals are now eligible for receiving a tax credit in Maryland for recycling shells due to a new oyster shell recycling tax credit. A couple of months ago, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt announced a partnership with ORP to use county transfer stations as public collection sites for the recycling of used oyster shells. The partnership started on July 1, and now residents and restaurants are able to receive a $1 tax credit per bushel of recycled oyster shell, up to $750 a year. The initial six Wicomico locations will have shell containers near the other recycling bins that will be clearly marked for shell drop-off. Once individuals or restaurants drop off their shell, they can register their donation online. ORP will collect the shells and transport them to Cambridge, Md., where the shell will be aged and processed before being returned to the Chesapeake Bay with baby oysters attached. “Currently, we have collected about a bushel and half of shells. The program has been in place about two months, and we are anticipating the winter months are going to be a big push,” Wicomico County Public Works Director Lee Beauchamp said this week. “Brew River has signed on to be a partner and we are looking for other restaurants all the time.” For more information on ORP, including a list of shell drop off stations and information regarding associated tax credit, visit the organizations website, www.oysterrecovery.org. SAVE 1000 $ ’S AT MARC ANTHONY’S END OF THE SEASON CLEARANCE!!! All Carrier Brand equipment including energy rated. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED! FOLKS THIS DEAL WON’T LAST! Call us today to schedule your FREE estimate! 888-353-4050 Limited Quantity Marc Anthony Services 888-353-4050 www.marcanthonyservices.com 10 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST!