Recycling Centers in Virginia Beach, VA
Find drop-off recycling locations in Virginia Beach, Virginia. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
Residents of Virginia Beach, Virginia can use this directory to locate nearby recycling drop-off locations. Whether you have household recyclables or specialty items like electronics or batteries, the facilities listed here can help you dispose of materials responsibly.
Recycling in Virginia Beach: A Local Guide
Virginia Beach — Virginia's most populous independent city and a major coastal community — offers two distinct recycling facilities for residents and businesses: a free municipal drop-off operated by the City and a for-profit scrap metal yard that pays customers by weight. Together they cover both everyday household recyclables and metal-heavy loads.
The Municipal Center Recycling Drop Off (also called the West Neck Recycling Center) at 2500 W. Neck Road is operated by the City of Virginia Beach Public Works Waste Management Division. This no-fee, drive-up facility accepts the same materials as Virginia Beach's curbside blue cart — clean paper and cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles and jugs, and cartons — plus household lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed Sundays and City holidays. No appointment or proof of residency is required for the drop-off; recyclables must be unbagged and loose in the bins.
Empire Recycling of Virginia Beach at 1040 Oceana Blvd is a drive-up scrap metal yard operated by Empire Services, Inc. Rather than charging a fee, it pays customers by the pound for copper (all grades), insulated wire, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, lead, lead-acid batteries, and catalytic converters — at rates updated daily on its website. It also buys junk and end-of-life vehicles. Open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM; Virginia law requires a valid photo ID for metal transactions. This is a metal buyer, not a general recycler — it does not accept household trash, cardboard, plastics, or glass.
For items outside these two facilities — electronics, tires, household hazardous waste, appliances — Virginia Beach residents should visit the Landfill & Resource Recovery Center at 1989 Jake Sears Road (Tuesday–Saturday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM).
All Recycling Centers in Virginia Beach
Recycling Centers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Virginia Beach
Where can I recycle paper, cardboard, and bottles in Virginia Beach for free?
The Municipal Center Recycling Drop Off at 2500 W. Neck Road accepts paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum/steel cans, plastic bottles and jugs, cartons, and household batteries — all free of charge. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. No appointment needed.
Is there a scrap metal recycler in Virginia Beach that pays cash?
Yes. Empire Recycling of Virginia Beach at 1040 Oceana Blvd buys copper, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, steel, lead, lead-acid batteries, catalytic converters, and junk vehicles at daily market rates. No disposal fee is charged — you are paid by weight. Bring a valid photo ID; open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Does the Virginia Beach Municipal Center drop-off accept electronics or hazardous waste?
No. The West Neck drop-off is a curbside-equivalent recycling site only. Electronics (e-waste), household hazardous waste, tires, metals, and appliances must be taken to the Virginia Beach Landfill & Resource Recovery Center at 1989 Jake Sears Road, open Tuesday–Saturday 7:00 AM–4:30 PM.
Can I sell a junk car at the Empire Recycling yard in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Empire Recycling buys end-of-life and non-running vehicles in any condition. Call (757) 932-8037 for a quote before bringing the vehicle to 1040 Oceana Blvd.