Media Contact: Alan Heymann (202) 741-2136
Washington, DC – the Department of Public Works (DPW) announced today that it will recycle all political campaign signs and posters it removes. Both DPW and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) urge candidates to be mindful of the environment and recycle any political signage posted in public space. By law, the signs must be removed within 30 days of an election.
“DPW has expanded its recycling program to accept a wider variety of materials, so we will be able to recycle all components of the campaign signage we remove over the course of the next 30 days,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “I encourage our local candidates, and our residents who intend to discard the political posters from their own property, to recycle so these materials can be reused instead of remaining in our landfills.”
DDOE Director George Hawkins also encouraged candidates to consider environmentally friendly alternatives when planning future campaigns.
“This election cycle has seen explosive growth in online interaction between candidates and their supporters,” said Director Hawkins. “One of the benefits of online campaigning is that it doesn’t require a fraction of the paper used in direct mail. If you still have election materials lying around, recycling or reusing them is the best thing to do. You can even find instructions online for building a solar heater or a birdhouse from old plastic campaign signs.”
Special campaign poster recycling bins have also been set up at the Reeves Center at 2000 14th Street, NW. Campaign representatives can bring any signage to be recycled weekdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm to the loading dock at the Reeves The loading dock is on U Street (between 14th and 15th Streets).
DPW recently announced an expanded list of acceptable recyclables that includes milk and juice cartons; plastic and newspaper bags; rigid plastics such as buckets, baskets, lawn furniture and toys; and wide-mouth containers.
Residents can call 311 if they need an additional recycling container, or put additional recyclable materials in either a brown paper bag or a small cardboard box and place next to their recycling bin or cart. A complete list of accepted materials and instructions can be found at www.recycle.dpw.dc.gov.