We are incredibly grateful and excited to be back up on Eastern Kuku Yalanji Country for our Annual Regeneration Tour! 🌱
Starting off we spent the day supporting our amazing partners @rainforestrescueau in preparation for their Annual Community Tree Planting Day.
A big shout out to @communityfoodscairns who have once again supplied all of our bulk food for this trip!
Come along with us for the next two weeks of regeneration! 🌾💚
#regenerate #rest #repair #rainforest #daintree
Our small but growing impact🏕️
Thanks to all of our amazing volunteers and everyone who’s donated a tent to us this season!
The events industry in Australia generates 100,000 tonnes of waste annually, with over 80% going into landfill.
We’re committed to diverting camping equipment from this tally, one tent at a time ❤️
photography by @gretelpetal_
#reuse #circulareconomy #festivals
2025 was truly a standout year for the Shuck Don’t Chuck program and for reef restoration in Victoria. Over 200 tonnes of shell waste was recycled all thanks to you!
We want to say a genuine thank you to our partners, your teams and our community.
As Shuck Don’t Chuck continues to evolve and expand exponentially this year with many exciting projects on the horizon, let’s take a look back at last year and the huge milestones we achieved together!
Together in 2025, we achieved:
* 208,552 kg of shells collected from partner venues
* That’s 264 m³ of shells diverted from landfill - the equivalent of six backyard swimming pools filled with shells
* Consistently low contamination levels, showing just how well your teams are sorting shells back of house
* Smooth, reliable collections all year, even as the program continued to grow
This year also brought international recognition for reef restoration work, with The Nature Conservancy’s Reef Builder program named a United Nations World Restoration Flagship. It’s a powerful endorsement of the type of on-the-ground, circular solutions you are contributing to through Shuck Don’t Chuck - local action with global significance.
Our long-standing shell collectors, Terry Clapham and David Cooper, have delivered consistently reliable, respectful service across venues and we’re grateful for the care they take every week in keeping collections running smoothly. During last year’s collab with Reground and Farm My School, Terry delivered a truck load of recycled coffee grounds to the second farm build in Colac.
Apart from chefs, hospitality venues and seafood processors - SDC has also collaborated with farmers, biomaterial designers, architects, ceramicists, jewellery designers, florists, builders, construction companies, scientists, food producers, schools, film makers, festivals, other sustainable social enterprises and beyond - the power of shell recycling is limitless and powerful. We’re excited to share that shells collected through your venue will be used in a new large-scale reef build in Corio Bay in early 2026.
#shuckdontchuck #NatureConservancyAustralia #Balternative #reefrestoration #shellrecycling
That’s right - on Earth Day we washed over 2000 dishes at @gentleannie as part of @groundedaustralia 🍽️🌱♻️
That’s over 700 Litres of waste that we’ve prevented by replacing single use food packaging with reusables!
While @groundedaustralia festival marked the last sustainable festival of the Victorian calendar season - we’ll still be back Washing against Waste this weekend with the @ourpeninsula at @hillandridgecommunitymarket and @ryecommunityfestival See you there? @
@earthdaynetwork
#bethechange #circulareconomy #womeninenvironment #earthday #reuserevolution
🌏 Earth Day may have been yesterday, but the momentum continues ♻️
The latest edition of @bigissueaustralia is out now, spotlighting powerful stories and initiatives creating real impact, including a feature on our Shuck Don’t Chuck program in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Australia highlighting the programs contribution to shellfish reef regeneration! 🦪 🌊
We’re also inspired by other incredible initiatives featured in this issue:
🌱 @kanyirninpajukurrpa a Martu-led organisation combining cultural knowledge with land management to care for Country and build sustainable futures.
🚛 @aussiehayrunners delivering vital support to drought-affected communities, helping sustain rural livelihoods through climate challenges.
What stands out across all of these stories is the importance of building partnerships that connect community and earth, bringing people, place and purpose together to create more sustainable futures.
It’s an issue full of hope, action and ideas worth getting behind. Grab a copy from your local vendor and support both people and the planet 💚
#earthdayeveryday #sustainability #climateactionnow #peopleandplanet #protectouroceans
People of @sonderfestival thanks for all the love 🧡 🥰
We had so much fun bringing your campsite dreams to life 🏕️
Thanks for choosing zero-waste camping with us, your support means to world to our little team and our beautiful planet!!
Grounded Festival will be Zero Waste! ♻️🍽️
You’ll fine our team at @groundedaustralia over the next 2 days with our reusable dishware, compost buckets and waste educators!
Thanks to the amazing @gentleannie restaurant, we’ll be washing all our dishes just down the road in there commercial kitchen!
Better yet, all organic waste from the amazing local food and coffee vendors will head to @farm.my.school in Colac 🌱♻️
See you tomorrow Grounded!
@thelocalgeelong@stoneandwood@gippslandjersey@lacaseta.latinfood@laam.thai@barwonevents@simon.toohey
#regenerative #soilscience #whatsonmelb #farmingconference #festival
Don’t just eat well - do well 🦪🔄
Your seafood dinner can actually help rebuild the ocean. Through Shuck Don’t Chuck, discarded shells are collected, cured and returned to the sea to rebuild shellfish reefs.
It’s a simple shift that makes a massive impact on our marine ecosystems. Next time you’re out, look for the Shuck Don’t Chuck bin at a partner venue near you!
📍 Support the restaurants that recycle. Scan the QR code to learn more.
#SustainableSeafood #OceanHealth #ShuckDontChuck #NatureConservancyAustralia #Balternative
We had an absolute blast delivering our Camp Care Waste Education program with @untitledgroupau this summer!
Festivals don’t just provide an opportunity for waste reduction on site - but they are key playgrounds for behaviour change that trickles back into our communities!
Although the Festival & Event season is slowing down, our calendar is filling up for the 2026/27 Summer. So if your event or festival is intrigued about the many ways you can improve resource recovery and eliminate waste, reach out today!
@goodintentionscamping
#whatsonmelbourne #sustainablefestivals #wasteeducation #musicfestivals #coachella
Ever wonder why your Good Friday spread is traditionally filled with seafood?
The custom of eating fish instead of meat on this day dates back centuries, rooted in the tradition of “abstinence” from the flesh of warm-blooded animals.
For many, it’s a day of reflection or a perfect excuse for a coastal feast!
But as we gather around the table today, let’s make sure our traditions aren’t costing the ocean.
Why Oysters?
Oysters are the ultimate superfood and source of zinc, protein, omegas, selenium and more.
They are filter feeders that actually improve the water quality around them. However, the real magic happens after you’ve finished your dozen through Shuck Don’t Chuck!
Traditional waste management sends oyster shells to landfills, where they do no good. Through the Shuck Don’t Chuck program, those shells are reclaimed, cured, and returned to the ocean to create the foundation for new, living shellfish reefs!
How You Can Help This Good Friday: * Choose Wisely: Visit a venue that partners with the Shuck Don’t Chuck shell recycling program * Eat for the Ecosystem: By dining at these spots, you’re ensuring your shells become homes for millions of new baby oysters and habitats for local fish. * Spread the Word: Tell your table-mates that their lunch is helping restore our coastline!
Let’s keep the tradition alive while giving the ocean a helping hand. Happy Good Friday! 🐟✨
#GoodFriday #SustainableSeafood #ShuckDontChuck #Balternative #ReefBuilder
That’s a wrap on @melbfoodandwine festival. Salted dark lager pouring, scampi caviar bumps flying, martinis in hand, and 456 shells recycled and $1400 raised for reef restoration with @shuckdontchuck in one service alone.
Thanks for everyone who made the day exceptional!
We are thrilled to share that @shuckdontchuck will be partnering with 6 events for the upcoming @melbfoodandwine Festival this March 20th-26th! 🌊🦪
In partnership with @nature_aus Reef Restoration Work, @b_alternative will be collecting used oyster, mussel and scallop shells from each event - diverting shells from landfill to create new reef!
Coming up first is @thefinderskeepersmarket Art of Dining this Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd the @seaworkswilliamstown !
Our incredible @shuckdontchuck Ambassador Isabelle Pearl will bring freshly shucked oysters as @finnsoysterbar in partnership with crispy fresh beers from @sailorsgravebrewing 🍻🦪
Who’s coming to dine at this 2 day immersive food journey?
#thefinderskeepers #theartofdining #melbfoodandwine #melbfoodie #whatsonmelbourne
