Strategies to Reduce and Recycle Political Campaign Signs

No matter who you vote for, when the election is over, we all win if we recycle our political campaign signs.

In a presidential election year, anywhere from 1 to 5 million signs are printed for large campaigns, especially for major candidates, and each one of those signs weighs about 1 to 2 pounds.

Political campaign signs are typically made from plastic, including PVC, a form of plastic that many municipal recycling facilities are unable to process. If these signs in their various forms go unrecycled, it could mean as much as 10 million pounds of plastic deposited into landfills.

Return Polymers specializes in recycling PVC material in various forms and applications. Here are some ideas to help your campaign, municipality, and neighborhood make wise choices for your political campaign signs before, during, and after this election season:

To help eco-conscious voters, municipalities, and political campaign managers reduce plastic waste from political signs, here are some sustainable ideas for each group before, during, and after an election:

Ways Eco-Conscious Voters Can Support Their Candidates and the Environment

If green initiatives are important to you, there are several ways you can advocate for the environment and support your preferred candidate:

• Support Reusable Signs: Encourage candidates to invest in durable signs with evergreen language that can be reused in future elections. These are especially effective for recurring campaigns, like mayoral, senatorial, or local issues support.

• Limit Sign Use: One sign says it all; rather than placing multiple signs in one area, focus on strategic locations. Fewer signs mean less waste.

• Choose Sustainable Candidates: Support candidates who commit to sustainable campaign practices, including using eco-friendly signs and reducing overall waste.

• Recycle or Repurpose: After the election, responsibly recycle plastic signs at a facility that accepts the kind of plastic your signs are made from, or repurpose them for personal use. The material from political signs can be reused for your garden as stakes and garden markers.

Municipal-Level Political Campaign Signage Strategies that Can Make a Difference

Community-wide initiatives can make the greatest local impact when it comes to political sign waste. Here are ways your city or town can reduce or eliminate plastic sign waste during an election season:

• Promote Recycling Programs: Set up designated drop-off locations where residents can recycle political signs after the election. You can partner with Return Polymers and your community’s material handling and recycling facility to make sure the proper materials are sent to the right places.

• Encourage Reusable Signs for Local Elections: While individuals can advocate for reusable plastic signs, municipalities can create incentives or offer grants for local candidates who use reusable signs that can be stored and repurposed in future elections.

• Conduct Post-Election Sign Cleanup Campaigns: Recruit your eco-conscious citizens to help organize volunteer efforts to collect leftover political signs from public areas and ensure they are disposed of properly.

Strategies Political Campaign Managers Can Follow to Support Eco-Friendly Signage

You are the master planners, the key strategists who want to make a difference for your candidate and your community. Before you order your signage for this election season, evaluate your choices. You can opt for biodegradable signs made from materials like bamboo, cardboard, or recycled paper, or choose recyclable corrugated plastic signs.

Here are several other ways you can be proactive about your political signage:

• Reuse Signs Across Campaigns: Print signs that support your candidate or cause without specific dates or slogans so they can be reused in future elections or for other campaigns.

• Minimize Sign Use: Again, there’s no need to plaster plastic signs every ten feet along the road. You can focus on digital campaigning and only use physical signs where absolutely necessary. Instead of mass sign production, consider concentrating on online engagement and targeted ads.

• Coordinate with Local Recycling Centers: Work with local waste management facilities and specialized recycling centers like Return Polymers to ensure signs can be collected and recycled post-election.

• Upcycle Campaign Materials: After the election, consider donating leftover signs to schools or community centers for art projects or upcycling them into useful products like tote bags or shelter coverings.

No Matter Who You Are, You Have a Voice for Responsible Political Campaign Signage

Just like every vote matters, every choice matters when it comes to recycling plastic. You can raise awareness in your community about the environmental impact of campaign signs and the steps they can take to minimize waste. Share eco-friendly practices on social media or write a press release to promote efforts to recycle and reduce plastic signage waste. And contact your local legislators to advocate for policies that will have a broader impact in your community.

You can have it both ways—promote your preferred candidates and policies, and reduce plastic waste in our landfills.

If you are a material handling facility, campaign manager, sign manufacturer, municipal leader, or everyday Joe who wants to make a difference in your community, we’d be happy to connect with you to bring a campaign sign recycling program to your community. Reach out to Return Polymers today to learn more.