Once the election is over, the campaign signs remain. Streets and road remained littered with
Here are some ways to get rid of old yard signs without throwing them out.
- Most cardboard signs can be recycled and repurposed. Wire frames can be recycled as well or used for other purposes, such as garden stakes. You can search for local recycling centers at Earth911.com.
- Corrugated plastic yard signs can be covered with a coat of primer paint and reused for other purposes, such as ‘Yard Sale’, ‘Garage Sale’ or regular ‘For Sale’ signs.
- Plastic film signs can be removed from their stakes and be able to be recycled at a grocery store, along with other plastic bags.
- Sign material can also be used to replace wood in creating bird houses/feeders.
- Donate the signs to other organizations for reuse.
- If your signs are not date-specific, they can always be saved and reused for the next election. This works well if the sign is for a single candidate.
If the sign you want to reuse is for multiple candidates, it can be a tricky. We’ve seen examples where one of the candidate’s names was lopped off the top of the sign and reused. It made the sign dimensions a little off, but it worked.
Recycling is usually the most environmentally-friendly option. Unfortunately, most plastic signs can’t be placed into your regular curbside recycling bin.
Keep your wire frames and stakes. These are expensive. If you ever plan to run for office again, you will want to reuse them. If not, you can always donate them to another political candidate. They will appreciate the contribution.
Remember, most political signage can only be displayed for a limited time after an election. Then they need to come down and be disposed of in some way. Have some volunteers ready to go out and pick them up as soon as possible. Many municipalities have rules as to how long signs may stay up before they need to be collected.
Now when a supporter asks what to do with their old campaign signs, you can give them some recycling options.
Related posts:
Common Campaign Sign Questions
Get your political website started fast for a price that meets any budget.
« Common Political Campaign Sign QuestionsCrowdfunding Your Political Campaign »