New Balloon Recycling Bins Launched in Manassas, Woodbridge

MANASSAS, VA – Prince William County has launched two new balloon recycling drop-off points, one at Manassas' Central Library and one at 5 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.

The Environmental Management Division of the county's Public Works Department is pairing up with Clean Virginia Waterways in that organization's mission to recycle 1 million balloons by 2028.

The two new recycling bins are now open for the public to use. More detailed directions on where to find them are here.

According to a press release from the county, balloons were ranked as the third deadliest type of ocean litter, right after abandoned fishing gear and plastic bags.

The new balloon recycling bins will be emptied by county staff and shipped to Terracycle, a company the county says specializes in finding ways to recycle materials that are considered too difficult or unprofitable to reuse. The county will weigh each shipment to keep track of the total number of balloons kept out of our local waste stream.

Residents with questions are invited to contact the Environmental Management Office at EMDSubmissions@pwcgov.org, to check out Clean Virginia Waterways' website and Facebook page and to learn about the balloon recycling program here.