Recycle Yard Signs
- Published on Monday August 21st, 2023
When election season is over, what happens to all of those plastic yard signs? In St. Louis, municipalities and other organizations have the option of collecting yard signs for recycling. In 2020, collection efforts in the bi-state St. Louis region diverted a total of 2,680 pounds of yard signs (approximately 3,350 signs) and 1,200 metal stakes from landfills.
Please do not place yard signs in your single stream recycling bin! The wire frames can impede or jam sorting equipment at the materials recycling facility (MRF), and the panels may not be made of a recyclable material that is accepted at the MRF.
For municipalities and other organizations who want to collect signs:
1. Determine a location for collection. Please note these considerations: While the frame and sign can both be collected for recycling, they will need to be separated prior to dropoff at the recycling facility. ONLY Corrugated Plastic signs; no plastic wrap/film signs, cardboard, or laminated cardboard signs are allowed. Any vinyl stickers on yard signs will need to be removed. Republic Recycling can lend gaylord boxes for the purposes of collecting signs. Volunteers cannot take signs off of private property without permission.
2. Select dates/times between Nov 6-15. It can be a location for a timeframe or a drop-off event.
3. Advertise on social media, community newsletters, on your website, and at other city events. You can use this graphicas a template.
4. If your organization is interested in participating, please contact the Green Cities Challenge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by SEPTEMBER 30th in order to be included in the promotion of this collaborative regional event! Please provide:
- Location
- Date/Time
- Organization Logo
- Contact information for your organization
5. Once collection is complete, set up a drop-off date/time. To be connected with Republic to set up a time to drop off the signs, please email the Green Cities Challenge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For individuals who want to recycle signs:
After the election, you can collect the political yard signs from your street or neighborhood and bring them to one of the dropoff locations below. ONLY Corrugated Plastic signs, NO plastic wrap/film, cardboard, or laminated cardboard signs allowed. Also, volunteers cannot take signs off of private property without permission. While specific dropoff locations and times are still being determined, there will likely be dropoff locations in:
- City of St. Louis
- Brentwood, Pine Lawn, and additional locations in St. Louis County
- Madison County
