In the United States, fall and spring are election seasons where citizens select their representatives and take sides on local issues. However, once the election is over, what should we do with the political yard signs? Can they be recycled? And what other purposes can these materials serve?
Instead of sending them to the landfill, it’s best to reuse and recycle these signs, as the materials, energy, and effort used to make them should be conserved. The metal stake and the sign itself are the two main components of the signage, but they are not recyclable in regular municipal curbside or drop-off recycling collection. They must be taken to a specialized recycling collection site.
Recycling Political Signs
The metal stake can be recycled through scrap metal recycling yards, and it’s recommended to collect a full load of metal before making the trip. The campaign sign is usually made of plastic film, laminated cardboard, or corrugated plastic, which are harder to recycle and need to be dropped off at a specialty recycling drive for these materials.
If the cause or candidate would prefer, the signs can be returned for reuse, which conserves resources and cuts costs for the next election. Making election signs “evergreen” by not including the date or year and using consistent colors and logos can encourage reuse.
Upcycling Political Signs
If candidates and causes don’t reuse their campaign signs, there are upcycling options. Corrugated plastic or plasticized cardboard signs can be repurposed into new signs, storage items, or building materials, while the metal stakes can be used to support garden plants or for new projects.
Practicing Our Values Consistently
Campaign signs come with no end-of-life plan, but after supporting candidates and measures that align with our values, it’s important to dispose of political yard signs responsibly at the end of the election cycle.
This article was originally published on June 2, 2021, and updated in December 2023.
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