Despite a drop in around the Front Range this season, voters will likely be eager to erase the evidence of this contentious election — whatever the outcome — starting next Wednesday.
As a result, is once again offering to recycle campaign yard signs for free at its facility in Adams County.
“We don’t think there are going to be as many signs as in 2012, but that’s still a lot,” said Steve Caulk of ProConnect Public Relations, which represents Alpine. “It also depends on where you go. If you drive through Arvada you’ll see a lot. And we’d much rather those get recycled than have them end up in a landfill.”
Alpine said it recycled about 2.5 tons of yard signs (or 5,000 signs, out of an estimated 100,000 total in the metro area), plus the metal wickets that anchor them to the ground, after the 2012 presidential election. Company officials are expecting a bit less this year, but will still accept the most common types of yard signs: the ones made of rigid, corrugated plastic and the ones made of flimsy plastic (or LDPE, similar to shower-curtain material).
“In the past we’ve contracted out with various municipalities, but this year only Golden is doing it,” Caulk said. “But we’d love to talk to any city that wants to do it.”
Denver residents are not allowed to place campaign yard signs in their purple recycling bins, said Heather Burke, marketing and communications specialist for Denver’s Department of Public Works.
However, Public Works will set up a collection container for campaign signs at its recycling drop-off center on Cherry Creek Drive, between Quebec Street and Jewell Avenue. Burke also recommended a private recycling company called SustainAbility that recycles campaign signs for a small fee.
To recycle for free, however, campaign workers and citizens can drop off signs at three containers near Alpine Waste’s main office at 7373 Washington St., in unincorporated south Adams County. Alpine asked that people separate the plastic from the metal and drop the metal wickets in the designated container. Drop-offs are available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, until Nov. 18.
However, true recycling means simply re-using the signs, Caulk said.
“Obviously all of them don’t end up in the trash,” he said. “Most of the politicians are going to want to save them for when they run for re-election.”
Alpine, which has been running the unique program since 2007, estimated that thousands of pounds of plastic and metal has been diverted from landfills as a result of the program.
“The signs will eventually be converted into plastic pellets,” said Brent Hildebrand, vice president-recycling at Alpine, in a press statement. “The pellets are used to help make common consumer goods such as lawn chairs, trash cans, toys and other heavy-plastic items.”
And, if the election gods are willing, even more yard signs.
