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| SIGNS, SIGNS, SIGNS, everywhere there are SIGNS, don’t do this, don’t do that, everywhere there are SIGNS as the old song goes.
But, the SIGNS I’m talking about are the CAMPAIGN SIGNS that have been and will be littering our highways and byways. The signs are not to go up before a month of any election but that is usually not the case. Try three months before. Since I’m in the advertising game I’m usually all for exposing what you are trying to sell. But what irritates me is the length of time that the signs remain after the election.
Many municipalities and cities require a deposit to post political signs and upon their removal the funds are refunded. Guess what not much money is refunded.
Here in Pennsylvania, where I live, there is a firm that is looking to stem campaign sign pollution. ReCommunity Recycling of Philadelphia, Sullivan’s Scrap Metals of Lower Moreland and the Montgomery County Recycling office have launched a recycling effort.
While candidates and their supporters are responsible for removing the signs, frequently the signs and their metal stakes end up in the trash, which adds to trash disposal fees.
After the recent local election, “There were 50,000 to 100,000 campaign signs in Montgomery County,” said Chris Kaasmann, Montgomery County Recycling Coordinator. “There were 50,000 signs just for the county row offices and when you add in each board of supervisors and school board you can imagine the quantity from there.”
“Campaign signs are in the public eye. Either people really like them or they don’t like them. Even though it is a great way to get someone elected, they are seen as litter or visual distractions. They are both loved and hated,” said Kaasmann.
What Montgomery County had instituted were various locations for candidates and residents to be able to drop off campaign signs. Some are the Democratic Headquarters and Republican Headquarters, various administrations buildings for local municipalities as well as recycling centers. They got their inspiration from Centre County. “They had a drop-off point at the solid waste management facility. They transferred the signs to a plastic recycling facility and the metal stakes were recycled as scrap metal,” said Kaasmann.
The small corrugated and bag-type plastic lawn signs are recyclable but should not be tossed into a standard curbside recycling bin. The metal stakes can be taken to a scrap metal facility.
So as you are driving down the highway this election year, give some thought to as to how long those signs will remain.
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE, YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT !!! |
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