In 2025, Lakeside Country Club partnered with the Galveston Bay Foundation to recycle oyster shells from the club’s culinary operation. Recycled oyster shells help restore reefs, improve water quality, and protect Gulf Coast shorelines from erosion.
Shells are separated after service and collected in a special recycling bin. When the bin is full, the service is called for pickup. The shells are then taken to a site where the cleaning and curing process begins before being reintroduced to the coast line or for special projects.
More than 4,000 oyster shells were recycled in the first year.
Banquet Operations Manager Shannon Ladd says the idea was influenced by her experience in Boston, where shell recycling programs are more widely established.
“After relocating to Texas,” she says, “I became interested in similar Gulf Coast initiatives, which led us to partner with the Galveston Bay Foundation to bring this effort to our club and support local reef restoration.”
The program received full support from the club’s leadership, Ladd says, allowing the team to seamlessly integrate it into daily operations.
And the logistics are relatively simple: Shells are collected during service, sorted and stored by front- and back-of-house teams, then transported by Galveston Bay Foundation for curing before returning to the bay.
The response from both our team and membership has been overwhelmingly positive, says Ladd, who attributes the success of the program to a strong internal effort across departments.
“We’re especially proud that there is no cost to the club—our members contribute simply by dining with us,” she says. “Additionally, Lakeside Country Club is proud to be the first country club in Houston to participate in this program.”
