Kane County Collects Post-Election Signs
Recyclers in Illinois are processing thousands of campaign signs before they reach landfills, with drop-off windows open through mid-November.
By Simon Bennett ·
Clair Ryan, the recycling program coordinator for Kane County, Illinois, stands beside a dumpster that is one-third full of corrugated plastic signs. The county launched this collection effort to prevent election materials from sitting in landfills for centuries. Ryan noted that the program allows them to recover materials that would otherwise remain buried for 100 or 200 years.
The initiative began three years ago when Ryan adopted a similar model from DuPage County. Standard curbside bins are not equipped to handle the specific materials used in campaign signs. If residents place these items in their regular recycling, the signs often end up in cardboard bales as contaminants or get discarded as residual trash.
On Friday morning, county workers were busy removing signs from public areas, while other candidates pulled their own stakes to save costs for future races. The collection drive relies on Lakeshore Recycling Systems in West Chicago to process the materials. Alex Sales, the operations manager for Lakeshore, explained that the plastic must withstand rain, sleet, snow, and harsh winds, which requires a stronger composition than standard packaging.
The recycling process separates the components. The plastic signs are processed by Lakeshore, while the galvanized steel stakes are sent to a scrap metal recycler. This separation ensures both materials are reused rather than discarded.
Two additional drop-off locations are available for residents. The Kane County Recycling Center in West Dundee and the Kane County Division of Transportation in Campton Hills accept signs during business hours. The program has attracted participants from neighboring areas, including the Democratic Party of McHenry County.
Ruth Scifo, the chair of the McHenry County Democratic Party, organized a team to collect signs from local streets. Her group offers candidates the option to reclaim their signs if they wish to reuse them, noting that the stakes and plastic represent a real expense. Scifo said her party is ready to receive the stacks of collected materials.
Kane County will accept signs until November 15. Ryan observed that the dumpster is usually more full during midterm or general election cycles. DuPage County is also holding two specific events for its residents on November 13 and 14 at 421 N. County Farm Rd. in Wheaton.
