Get this out to friends of yours that may have ran for office.
Political signs pose recycling challenge
By Jake Thomas, Resource Recycling
The polls have closed, the pundits are silent (sort of) and the ballots have been counted. But one question remains: What to do with all those political yard signs?
All across the country, people are taking down signs expressing their support for candidates and causes. And in some parts of the country, efforts are under way to collect and recycle these signs, which are often made from difficult-to-recycle materials.
Political signs are typically made from materials that make them durable and able to withstand being left outdoors for the marathon election season, such as corrugated plastic or plastic film. While these materials might make signs more weatherproof, they also make them less recyclable. However, this isn't deterring local organizations from keeping them out of landfills.
"I'm finding that, yes, [local organizations] are recycling them, but you have to take them to a collection center," said Brenda Pulley, senior vice president for recycling at Keep America Beautiful, of the newly-irrelevant signs.
In Oregon's mid-Willamette Valley, Allied Waste/Republic Services will be holding collection events in Albany and Corvallis on Nov. 15, America Recycles Day, to allow residents to recycle their signs.
"What we're trying to accomplish is to let people know that most of the plastics included in the signs should not be co-mingled [in curbside recycling]," said Emily Phillips, recycling coordinator at Allied Waste/Republic Services.
According to Phillips, many of the signs in her area are made from either a corrugated plastic or a thin film held together with a recyclable metal frame. She said that her company will have volunteers on hand at the event to separate the materials. The collected plastics will be sent to Agri-Plas, Inc., a company in Brooks, Oregon that specializes in recovering agricultural plastics, where they will be processed into crude oil, she said.
Phillips said that some candidates are collecting and saving their signs for reuse during the next election cycle, which she said is great option for keeping them out of landfills.
Gene Dempsey, City Forester
Environmental Services
Office - (954) 828-5785 Fax - (954) 828-4745
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