Why New York turned 5,000 discarded toilets into oyster reefs beneath Jamaica Bay

New York City repurposed nearly five thousand old toilets into artificial reef structures. These porcelain fixtures now provide a base for juvenile oyster growth in Jamaica Bay. Oyster reefs are vital for filtering pollutants and improving water quality in New York Harbour. Decades of pollution and overfishing had previously destroyed these important natural systems. This initiative supports broader coastal resilience and habitat restoration efforts across the region.