Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Virginia Beach, VA – Wrap up the holidays sustainably with the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s two free recycling events, a Christmas Tree-cycling in December and an E-cycling event in January.


Sustainable Christmas tree recycling

The Virginia Aquarium is collecting and recycling live-cut Christmas trees in support of marine conservation with Marine Stewards America (MSA). From December 28 to January 9, bring your Christmas tree to the Aquarium’s East Parking Lot and drop it off in the designated area for recycling.


MSA will use the trees to restore sand dunes along our coastline, which supports our local marine ecosystem by controlling erosion, providing nutrients for beach plants, creating habitats for beach animals, and keeping waste out of the landfill. Acceptable trees for drop off must be bare and live-cut trees from households. No trees from commercial businesses will be accepted. Only the first 200 trees will be accepted.


Upgrading your electronics this holiday?

Dispose of old electronics responsibly at the Virginia Aquarium’s E-Cycling event on January 11, from 9 a.m. to noon, presented by PRA Group. Rain or shine, participants can recycle old cellphones, used vehicle batteries, personal electronic items, unneeded prescriptions, and more. 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.


Sustainability is a cornerstone of the Virginia Aquarium’s mission, and E-Cycling events like this one provide a responsible and eco-friendly way to dispose of electronic items. The hard plastic in many of these items will never decompose in a landfill. In items such as car batteries, the acid or chemicals in the products can end up in the ground or water run-offs and are corrosive and harmful to the environment. 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 TV’s and commercial copy machines. If you have these items in your home, check your local landfill site for drop off options. If you have these items in your home, check your local landfill site for drop off.


The events are free to the public, but donations are appreciated and will go to the Aquarium Foundation to support additional sustainable practices.


Participants can register for E-Cycling and Christmas Tree-cycling on VirginiaAquarium.com .


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, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks 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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