LANSING, Mich. — With the midterms over, Michigan law gives property owners and campaigns a short window to clear roadside and yard signs: 10 days after Election Day, which puts the statewide deadline around Nov. 13 for the Nov. 3 vote.
Recycling offices across the state are fielding the same question this week — can the signs go in the blue bin? Clinton County recycling coordinator Kate Neese says the answer is almost never simple because one lawn display can mix corrugated plastic, coated boxboard and metal H-frames.
Metal stakes and frames belong at scrap dealers, not in curbside carts, because they tangle sorting lines. Corrugated plastic and many coated boards lack a reliable recycling market. Some thin plastic film signs might ride with store bag programs if a local site allows it, but weather-worn pieces often end up as trash.
The Michigan Environmental Council notes many campaigns eventually collect leftover signs for bulk reuse or recycling, though pickup can lag. Until then, residents can call their local recycler, peel metal from plastic, or paint over boards for garage-sale reuse. Burning plastic signs is discouraged because of toxic smoke.
Paper campaign mailers and envelopes are the easy exception: those can go in household paper recycling. For everything else, local Waste Wizard tools and scrap yards are safer than hoping the sorting plant can handle a tangle of frames and poly board.
Section: More Lansing MI politics news
Filed under: Lansing MI Politics News
