Kane County Sets Nov. 15 Deadline for Corrogated Plastic Campaign Sign Drop-offs
Residents in Kane and neighboring counties have until next week to dispose of election signage at three designated sites to keep the material out of landfills.
By Lauren Foster ·
A large dumpster outside the Kane County Government Center sat one-third full on Friday morning, filled with the corrugated plastic panels and metal stakes that lined yards across the region during the recent election. The collection program runs through Nov. 15, providing a specific window for residents to remove their campaign materials before the post-election cleanup period ends.
The initiative was adapted from a similar program in DuPage County three years ago. Clair Ryan, the recycling program coordinator for Kane County, explained that standard curbside recycling bins are not equipped to handle the materials. If a resident places a sign in a regular bin, it typically ends up in a cardboard bale as a contaminant or in the residual stream, which is effectively trash. Ryan noted that the material would otherwise sit in a landfill for 100 or 200 years.
Instead of curbside pickup, residents must bring signs to one of three drop-off locations: the Kane County Government Center, the Kane County Recycling Center in West Dundee, or the Kane County Division of Transportation in Campton Hills. Lakeshore Recycling Systems, based in West Chicago, handles the separation process. Alex Sales, the operations manager for Lakeshore, said the signs are made from stronger materials to withstand rain, sleet, snow, and harsh winds. The galvanized steel stakes are sent to a scrap metal recycler, while the plastic panels are processed separately.
The program has drawn participation from outside the county. Ruth Scifo, the chair of the Democratic Party of McHenry County, said her organization is collecting signs and transporting them to the Kane County sites. She stated that the party is also offering candidates the option to have their signs returned, as the materials cost money and can be reused in future campaigns.
Ryan said the current volume is lower than usual for this time of year. He described the dumpster as typically being much fuller during midterm or general elections. Candidates often remove their own signs to save them for later use, which reduces the amount of material coming into the county system.
Residents in DuPage County have their own separate events scheduled. Two drop-off sessions are set for Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 at 421 N. County Farm Rd. in Wheaton. The Nov. 13 session runs from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the Nov. 14 session runs from 9 a.m. to noon.
