Wondering what to do with your election yard sign? Recycle it now through April 13 at Wilmette Village Hall

When the final votes are cast and the polls officially close, many residents will be left with political yard signs without further use.

Things with no use usually go in the trash, but thanks to a new initiative from the Village of Wilmette, locals can keep those election signs out of a landfill by recycling them instead.

Residents and local politicians can drop off their signs at Wilmette Village Hall through Tuesday, April 13, to have them recycled. In addition to the signs, metal posts will also be accepted. 

A public works pick-up truck with two bright green signs will be parked in the Village Hall parking lot off Central Avenue, Village Manager Mike Braiman told The Record. Anyone can drop their signs off at any time through next Tuesday. 

This is the first time Wilmette has mass recycling available for election yard signs, Braiman said.

Senta Plunkett, who is a current village trustee running for village president in the April 6 election, reached out to staff with the suggestion, he said. 

The recycling will be facilitated by Chicago Logistic Service, a company out of Elgin, Ill., that was recommended by the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. 

Village officials will be using social media in the coming days to help spread the word. Other units of government who have contested elections like the library, and park and school districts also shared information with their candidates asking them to let locals know of the recycling option. 

Braiman said that sign recycling at village hall will be available to anyone and is not exclusive to residents of Wilmette. 

“We would love to recycle as many signs as we can so we welcome residents from any other communities,” he said.

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