E-Cycling Event | Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Renovation Updates

Please note some exhibit spaces in the Aquarium are temporarily closed while we conduct maintenance and renovation work. Learn more on our Renovation Progress page .

E-Cycling volunteers in high-vis vests carrying old electronics.

Saturday, January 11 | 9:00am-noon | East Parking Lot of the Virginia Aquarium.

Dispose of old electronics responsibly at the Virginia Aquarium’s E-Cycling event, presented by PRA Group.

Rain or shine, participants can recycle old cellphones, used vehicle batteries, personal electronic items, unneeded prescriptions, plastic bags, and more at this free event. The event will be a drive-through in the Aquarium’s East Parking Lot with participating vendors including AAA Tidewater Virginia, Goodwill Industries, Virginia Beach Police Department, NexTrex plastic recycling, and the 911 Cellphone Bank, where old cellphones will be refurbished and donated to victims of human trafficking.

This event ends promptly at noon. We are collecting personal-use items only and not from businesses at this time. We encourage you to register for free in advance, which will give us a headcount to prepare for!

Volunteer for E-Cycling!

Want to support our E-Cycling Event? Register a volunteer to help out!

Items We Will Accept and Collect

Electronics

Goodwill and the Aquarium will collect general electronics recycling such as personal computers, phones, tablets, TVs of all sizes (except for tube TVs), cameras, digital media players (mp3, DVD, etc.), video game systems, smartwatches, memory storage devices (e.g. SD cards), electronic accessories (chargers, headsets, rechargeable batteries, etc.), and external hard drives.

Cell Phones for a Cause

The 911 Cell Phone Bank will collect new, used, or broken phones to repurpose and provide to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence as free emergency devices.

Prescription Medications

Officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department will be onsite to collect old or unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal.

Vehicle Batteries

AAA will be accepting used vehicle batteries and old, broken, or expired child safety carseats. Aside from rechargeable batteries, we will not be accepting any other battery types at this event.

Plastic Bags/Waste

NexTrex will collect a variety of plastic items for recycling, including:

Grocery bags
Bread bag
Produce bags
Bubble wrap
Dry cleaning bags
Newspaper sleeves
Ice bags
Plastic shipping envelopes
Food storage bags
Cereal bags
Case overwrap (such as for cases of bottled water)
Pallet overwrap and stretch film
Salt bags
Wood pellet bags

What We're NOT Accepting

Please note that we are not accepting any hazardous household waste (HHW), cardboard, car seats, tube TVs, or commercial/business electronics at this event. Please contact your local landfill site to learn how to dispose of these items. Virginia Beach residents may dispose of hazardous household waste in the designated section of the City Landfill.

How to Dispose of HHW

Are you a Virginia Beach resident?

Learn more about recycling services offered through the City of Virginia Beach!

About City Recycling