Elect to Recycle Campaign Materials After the Votes Are In

Fall municipal elections will soon be taking place across the state of Florida and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is urging local candidates for political office and citizens to be mindful of the environment and recycle their campaign materials. Recycling materials such as campaign signs keeps waste out of landfills and allows for the reuse of materials.

Recycling campaign signs is one way to get involved in helping Florida achieve its new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent by the year 2020. The goal was established in the Energy, Climate Change, and Economic Security Act of 2008. The Act, signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist, also directs DEP to develop a program designed to achieve the 75 percent goal and submit it to the Florida Legislature for approval by January 1, 2010. DEP is encouraging the public to assist in developing this plan and has created a public Web-based forum where interested persons can share thoughts, suggestions and comments, as well as view the contributions of other participants.

{sidebar id=1}“Recycling campaign materials, instead of throwing them away makes a lot of sense. It keeps waste out of landfills, and helps push Florida a step closer to achieving the new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent by 2020,” said Mary Jean Yon, DEP’s Director of Waste Management. “Conservation, reuse and recycling of all resources and wastes should be a key component of our lifestyles and part of our everyday efforts to reduce our waste stream.”

As elections draw near, the number of campaign signs lining the streets of Florida’s cities and counties increases. Many local governments have ordinances regarding the removal of campaign signs within a specific timeframe after the election. This can sometimes result in campaign signs and related materials filling the landfills around the state. Recycling campaign signs not only saves space at landfills, each ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. Recycled paper also saves 60 percent energy in comparison to new paper and generates 95 percent less air pollution. A recent statewide survey conducted by the Department determined that there are 34 counties and 22 cities interested in campaign sign recycling. Among these respondents, 59 percent plan to offer campaign sign recycling within their jurisdiction. If all counties and cities that expressed interest in campaign sign recycling actually participate, there could be nearly 35 tons of campaign signs collected, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 29 MTCE (Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalents) and saving 416 cubic yards of landfill space.

“We have historically been able to recycle 100 percent of all campaign signs that we were able to obtain," said Bill Sanders with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Inc., who started collecting signs during a pilot program conducted by DEP in 2006.

Keep Indian River Beautiful, Inc. has also decided to help keep campaign signs out of the landfill by offering to collect them at the local Habitat for Humanity.

“By diverting reusable materials from the landfill, you are making a difference in your community,” said Kristy Sturdivant, Executive Director of Keep Indian River Beautiful, Inc.

DEP encourages candidates and citizens to check with their local recycling coordinator for recycling campaign signs options. For local recycling coordinator information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/pages/contact.htm .

To find out more about DEP’s campaign sign recycling pilot program, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/shw/recycling/CSRReport-Final2007-04-09.pdf

For more information on the new 75 percent statewide recycling goal, and to share your comments on ways to achieve this goal and view comments from others on our Web-based forum, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/recyclinggoal75/.