INTERVIEW: Entrepreneur finds use for invasive zebra mussel

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - A Northeast Wisconsin entrepreneur thinks he has a method of using an invasive species to provide a widely-used substance.

Tyler Rezachek is founder of the startup AntiMussel. His company aims to take zebra mussels out of waterways and convert their shells to calcium carbonate, a substance used in the manufacturing of numerous items, including paper; paints; plastics; chalk; and antacids, like Tums.

Normally, it’s mined from limestone, but shells are the only renewable source of calcium carbonate.

Rezachek joined us on Action 2 News at 4:30 to tell us more about the process, why it’s a better alternative, and how much interest there is in his product. We also asked him if this offers us any hope of cleaning invasive species out of our waters.

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