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Disclaimer: This webpage is under renovation. Information listed here may not be up-to-date or complete at this time.

The Virginia Zoo is committed to sustainable practices and encourages the community to do the same. Here are several ways the Zoo has dedicated to green practices – how many are you doing? How many can you try in your home, workplace or community this year? Not only are we building a community of environmental stewards, but we are also saving money, resources and the world with our daily actions.

Click the title of each sustainability topic or the plus sign (+) next to each initiative to learn more about our efforts at the Virginia Zoo.

The Virginia Zoo Green Team Committee is a group of staff interested in improving the Zoo’s sustainability initiatives. They are dedicated to adopting environmentally conscious practices at the Virginia Zoo to further inspire our community to protect our planet. Green Team is specifically focused on waste reduction, water use, energy and fuel conservation, and sustainable practices.

In 2025, the Virginia Zoo Green Team initiated a partnership with Tidewater Compost to reduce the impact of our food waste. This partnership began with food waste in our Admin Building and Animal Services Building office kitchens and now extends to our World of Reptiles and Animal Wellness Campus! Tidewater Compost also joined the Zoo for our first Fall Fest in September 2025 to compost food scraps from the event.

Green Team is looking forward to developing new sustainability initiatives and building on existing ones each year!

Recycling is one of the many ways that we can reduce the amount of waste in landfills. Here at the Virginia Zoo, we aim to recycle as much as we can, from plastic bottles and aluminum cans to electronic waste. We also encourage our guests to do the same, both on grounds and in their own homes!

Recycling Bins

Trash and recycling bins are conveniently located across the park. The products collected in our recycling bins are sent to a facility to be broken down and reused, including paper, cardboard, plastics, and aluminum cans.

ecocell

Many electronics require rare minerals and metals to function. Mining for these materials destroys habitats and displaces native species. You can protect wildlife by recycling your unwanted electronics right here at the Virginia Zoo! Simply place your old cellphones, iPads/tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, charging cables, and other electronic waste in the ecocell bin located outside the Gift Shop on the outside of the Zoo. Visit ecocell’s website here for the full list of recyclable items.

Green Team is looking forward to developing new sustainability initiatives and building on existing ones each year!

The Virginia Zoo has a few different beehives on grounds in the ZooFarm and Flora Point. These hives provide additional pollinators to the local ecosystem which allows us and our neighbors to have stunning gardens! Special thanks to the Tidewater Beekeepers Association for their assistance with maintaining the observational hive and AZ hive in the red barn at the ZooFarm.

Palm Oil Scan

Palm oil is a preservative found in candy, cookies, baked goods, shampoo, cosmetics, pet foods and even cleaning products. When palm oil is produced at certified sustainable plantations and mills, rainforest areas are protected. However, non-sustainable plantations result in the destruction of critical habitat for orangutans, Sumatran elephants, tigers, Sumatran rhinos and many other animals. Take action by making responsible consumer choices; only purchase products made from sustainably-produced palm oil, or products without palm oil present.

In addition to working towards our own sustainability goals, we help our community partners achieve theirs! In 2025, we donated approximately 25 pounds of wool from our Southdown babydoll sheep and Huacaya alpacas to the Coastal Virginia Weavers. They then transformed our wool into usable fibers for their crafts!

Green Team

The Virginia Zoo Green Team Committee is dedicated to adopting environmentally conscious practices at the Virginia Zoo to inspire our community to protect our planet. Green Team is specifically focused on waste reduction, water use, energy and fuel conservation, and sustainable practices.

Green Team is looking forward to developing new sustainability initiatives and building on existing ones each year.

ECO-CELL

Simply place any unwanted electronic item or accessory in our Eco-Cell bin located outside the Gift Shop (exterior of the Zoo).

Help the Zoo turn your old gadgets and electronics into a saving force for the environment through our new Eco-Cell recycling program!

Click here for more information.

Recycling

Recycling reduces waste in landfills including many forms of hazardous material. Recycling also reduces the need for mining raw minerals, and can reduce the costs of consumer products.

Both Zoo guests and staff are encouraged to recycle on grounds and at home. Trash and recycling bins are conveniently located across the park. The products collected in our recycling bins are sent to a facility to be broken down and reused, including paper, cardboard and plastics.

Coastal Virginia Weavers Partnership

Beehives

Zoo Keepers clean animal enclosures by sweeping instead of hosing down areas. Cisterns, rain gardens and catchment basins throughout the Zoo property capture rain water from the roofs of buildings, visitor paths and run off, causing the water to pool so that it can percolate back down into the water table making it available for future use rather than running off into storm sewers into the Lafayette River. The Zoo has also installed automatic flush toilets and faucets in all of its restrooms that reduce water and electrical usage.

Saving Energy

The Zoo reduces electricity by using light sensors to turn on lights in guest restrooms, keeping overhead lights off in hallways and unused rooms in the administration building, and keeping blinds open to use natural light in staff offices.

Saving Water

Rain Gardens

Three rain gardens have been created on Zoo grounds to absorb and filter run-off storm water before it seeps into the Lafayette River.

We are working to restore the wetlands at the Zoo by removing invasive plants and concrete, and planting new marsh grasses.

Smart Shopping

Viewed by many as a good alternative to trans-fats, palm oil is found in candy, cookies, baked goods, shampoo, cosmetics, pet foods and even cleaning products. When palm oil is produced at certified sustainable plantations and mills, rainforest areas are protected. However, non-sustainable plantations result in the destruction of critical habitat for orangutans, elephants, tigers, sun bears, rhinos and many other animals. Take action by making responsible consumer choices; only purchase products made from sustainably-produced palm oil, or products without palm oil present.

Also use eco-friendly cleaning products. These items work better than ever and can easily be found at your neighborhood store. Eco-friendly cleaning products are not only less harmful to the environment, but are healthier for humans to use and animals to be near.

Gardening Habits

The Zoo has an Eco-Garden featuring environmentally friendly garden techniques including composting and an Aldabra tortoise house with “living” walls and roof to educate visitors about opportunities for their own homes.

Plant native flowering plants in your yard to attract butterflies. Plant sunflowers to create beautiful natural bird feeders. Leave small brush piles for smaller critters to hide in. Maintain a green garden and lawn without pesticides.

Use drip irrigation systems in gardens (which require less water) and use the irrigation system only when rainfall is not sufficient.

Community Partnerships

The Zoo has formed partnerships with many businesses and organizations to work together and engage our communities in sustainability practices. Some of those include: