How to recycle campaign yard signs in the Philadelphia region

With the 2024 election concluded and most of races called, it's time to clear the thousands of campaign signs across front yards in the region.

"I'm sure people want to destroy any reminders of the election they have in their vicinity," said Montgomery County Commissioner Neil K. Makhija after a tumultuous election season. "I would encourage them to rather than just light them on fire or throw them in the trash to instead think of the planet and recycle them."

Montgomery County has led the region in campaign sign recycling for years, establishing over a dozen drop-off sites to safely recycle these signs entirely. Delaware County offers a similar program.

Campaign signs are often made from plastic film, corrugated plastic, or cardboard attached to metal wire. While corrugated cardboard is recyclable at most centers, plastic film, corrugated plastic, and wire frames require special handling.

Montgomery and Delaware counties process all materials. In Philadelphia and other nearby counties, recycling requires extra steps.

Campaign sign materials that need to be recycled: Philadelphia and other counties can recycle corrugated cardboard at county recycling centers . Plastic film can recycled at certain recycling sites like ACME, Target, and recycling sites in Montco and Delco.

However, metal wireframing needs to be disposed of at local scrap yards . Corrugated plastic can only be recycled at Montgomery County or Delaware County recycling sites.

Most campaign signs aren't accepted in regular trash. If you miss local recycling opportunities, hold onto signs for next year.

Local agencies and organizations recycling campaign signs Montgomery County Recycles plastic film, corrugated plastic/cardboard, and wire frames.

Delaware County Hosts two-day recycling events on Nov. 8 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and Nov. 9 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.) at Rose Tree Park, Media . Non-election signs are accepted.

Philadelphia Sanitation Convenience Centers Accepts only corrugated cardboard; metal wire frames should be taken to scrap yards.

ACME Markets ACME Markets partners with NexTrex to offer recycling drop boxes at ACME locations across the region. You can recycle plastic film at these locations, but corrugated plastic/cardboard and wireframing cannot be recycled at ACME. Take the corrugated cardboard signs to a Philadelphia Sanitation Center to be recycled and the metal wireframing to a scrapyard. Corrugated plastic can only be recycled in Montco or Delco.

Target has recycling stations in the front of stores to recycle plastic film. Corrugated plastic/cardboard and wireframing cannot be recycled at Target. Take the corrugated cardboard signs to a Philadelphia Sanitation Center to be recycled and the metal wireframing to a scrapyard. Corrugated plastic can only be recycled in Montco or Delco.

Where to drop off campaign signs to be recycled Montgomery County Recycling centers will operate from Wednesday, Nov. 6 to Wednesday, Nov. 13. Hours of operation depend on the location, but local officials said will mostly operate during regular business hours.

Delaware County Campaign sign recycling efforts will be on Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Philadelphia Sanitation Convenience Centers Open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ACME Markets Drop off recyclable items at the ACME/Nex Trex drop boxes on site.