The Environment in Focus with Tom Pelton

More than 150 restaurants in the Chesapeake region are now recycling oyster shells by donating them for projects that return shells to the Bay to serve as the foundation upon which baby oysters are planted. A Maryland lawmaker wants more restaurants and seafood consumers to participate, and has proposed legislation that would give tax credits to encourage shell recycling. Bryan Gomes, left, of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, picks up shells from Michael Stavlas, co-owner of the Hellas restaurant in Millersville, Maryland.

Jeff Kelble, a professional fishing guide on the Shenandoah River in Virginia, was forced to abruptly change careers eight years ago when nearly all the smallmouth bass in his river died. So he re-invented himself as a full-time advocate for the Chesapeake Bay tributary, filed legal actions that helped reduce pollution, and enjoyed watching the bass populations come roaring back.

Two of Maryland's fastest growing areas--Frederick and Cecil counties--are refusing to follow a 2012 state law designed to prevent suburban sprawl by limiting large new subdivisions to areas served by sewer systems, according to the Maryland Department of Planning. The counties argue the state should not interfere with local land-use authority. Frederick County activists Pam Abramson (left) and Amy Reyes (right) stand beside a sign marking a 1,100-home subdivision planned for the middle of farm fields.

Maryland lawmakers are debating whether to follow 10 other states in requiring deposits (five cents in most states) on all bottles and cans to encourage consumers to recycle. Research by Dan Nees (above) and colleagues at the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center found that Maryland residents buy 4 billion beverage containers every year, but only recycle 22 percent of them. That's less than the national average of 35 percent, and a fraction of the 67 percent in New York and the 97 percent in Michigan (which both have container deposit laws).