Group seeks to grow Ocean Friendly Restaurants program

OCEAN CITY, Md. – In Ocean City, a group of volunteers is pushing efforts to get every restaurant in Maryland to become more sustainable this year.

Volunteers at the Ocean City Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation says there are not enough restaurants participating in their Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, which encourages more proper recycling practices.

It is also designed to eliminate single-use plastics.

Although the program is not new, only three restaurants in the entire state of Maryland have joined their program.

Now they are hoping students from Stephen Decateur High School will knock on doors and help them get more restaurants on board.

“For restaurant owners, at least in Ocean City, this is their home, this is where their customers are,” said Marina Feeser, secretary of the chapter.

“It’s a thing of pride keeping the beach clean, keeping the ocean clean,” said Feeser.

Ocean City’s Mother’s Cantina and Pickles Pub are the only two local restaurants participating in the program.

Members of the group say they are also hoping to have more volunteers, moving forward.