Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Virginia Beach, VA – Wrap up the holidays sustainably at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s free E-Cycling event on Saturday, January 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. While opening presents and celebrating the holidays, hold onto the cardboard, bubble wrap, Christmas tree, and any recently upgraded electronics to dispose of responsibly.
Rain or shine, participants can recycle old cellphones, personal electronic items, their Christmas tree, unneeded prescriptions, cardboard, plastic bags, resealable plastic bags, case overwrap, bubble wrap and more at this free event. The event will be a drive-through in the Aquarium’s East Parking Lot with participating vendors including Goodwill Industries , AAA Tidewater , Virginia Beach Police Department , and the 911 Cellphone Bank , where old cellphones will be refurbished and donated to victims of human trafficking.
The Aquarium will collect bare and live-cut Christmas trees from households during this three-hour event as well. The collected trees will be repurposed for mulching used throughout the city. This event is for residential recycling only, and no trees from commercial businesses will be accepted. Trees will not be accepted or collected at the Aquarium on any other day or time.
Recycling electronics is crucial to the health of the environment. The hard plastic in many of these items will never decompose in a landfill and can contribute to microplastics. Many old electronic devices contain toxic substances that include lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, polyvinyl chloride, and chromium. When e-waste is tossed into landfills, these chemicals seep into the soil, polluting the ground water and the air.
Electronics are made of components that contain valuable raw materials and can be repurposed for new devices when they are recycled. As a result, energy is saved, pollution is reduced, and there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere. Recycling old devices saves energy. It also means that fewer raw materials need to be drawn from nature to create new devices. Additionally, reusing electronics can help members of the community who would not otherwise have access.
Items that will not be accepted during the event include hazardous waste, CRT tube TVs, and copy machines. If you have these items in your home, check your local landfill site for drop off options. For a full list of accepted items, visit VirginiaAquarium.com.
The event is free to the public, but donations are appreciated and will go to the Virginia Aquarium Foundation to support efforts that promote sustainable practices.
The Virginia Aquarium has hosted 27 E-Cycling events since 2009 that have collectively diverted more than 745,000 pounds of e-waste from the landfill thanks to dedicated participants. This event is made possible because of our dedicated volunteers. Sign up to be an E-Cycling volunteer , or register for free at VirginiaAquarium.com .
In the event of extreme weather, the E-Cycling event will be postponed. Stay up to date on the Aquarium’s website or by subscribing to the Aquarium’s email newsletters .
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s mission is to connect people to the marine environment, inspiring a more sustainable future. The Aquarium aspires to be a driver in conservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems. Owned by the City of Virginia Beach, the Aquarium operates as a city department in partnership with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation. The Aquarium is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium's exhibits, including the animals and habitats. It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium's mission-related education programs. You can be a part of our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support our programming.
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