Thirty-five employees from JLL’s Tri-State business recently traded their commercial real estate desks for Governor’s Island to roll up their sleeves for the Billion Oyster Project.
Led by JLL Managing Director and project leadership committee member Andrew Dzenis, the corporate volunteer team spent the day sorting and cleaning recycled restaurant shells, ultimately assembling them into foundational reef structures. These structures provide vital attachment sites for young oysters, directly supporting the non-profit’s ambitious goal of restoring one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2030.
Beyond restoring the native oyster population, the hands-on initiative drives a broader environmental mission. Mature oyster reefs act as natural powerhouses for the local ecosystem:
- Water Filtration: Oysters naturally filter impurities, dramatically improving overall harbor water clarity.
- Habitat Creation: The reefs establish thriving ecosystems and safe nurseries for local marine life.
- Storm Resilience: The structural reefs help buffer shorelines against severe storms and tidal surges.
Founded in 2014, the Billion Oyster Project has diverted millions of pounds of restaurant shells from landfills, leveraging community stewardship and hands-on science education. Rachel Taylor, Corporate Partnerships Senior Coordinator for the project, praised the collaboration: “When volunteers spend a day sorting shells and building reef structures, they are contributing to healthier habitats while demonstrating the kind of long-term community stewardship this work requires.”
For JLL, the outing underscores a continuous corporate pledge to local environmental resilience and community engagement across the Tri-State area.
“New York Harbor is part of the fabric of every borough,” Dzenis said. “We are proud to support Billion Oyster Project and to give our people a direct role in caring for a resource that belongs to all New Yorkers.”
