After the elections are over, what happens to all those “Vote for…” signs?

Suze Peace of DeLand asked this question in 2016 and found they go to the landfill (!) and so began her campaign to find a way to recycle them. Florida Statute 106.1435 mandates signs be removed within 30 days after the election. Suze gained support from Regina Montgomery, Volusia County Director of Solid Waste, and Lisa Lewis, Volusia County Supervisor of Elections, who found a local recycling company. Starting with the 2018 elections, both political parties were all-in and so the sign recycling program was launched. The effort has grown yearly from recycling 1.799 tons in 2018 to 2.3 tons in 2024.

No signs are removed from the roads or yards. Instead, Ms. Lewis sends out information to all candidates with a map showing where they can dropoff signs OR when to bring signs for the county-wide dropoff. This year, anyone can dropoff signs at the County Fairgrounds (without the metal poles) the weekend of November 20-21, from 2-5 pm.

FCC Environmental and GEL will then bale the signs and send them to K&W Plastics in Troy, Alabama, where they are made into benches, boardwalks, buckets, fences, etc. Suze thanks her husband, Fred, for constant support, Ms. Montgomery and Ms. Lewis, FCC Environmental, GEL, and county staff, the League of Women Voters of Volusia County and faithful friends for helping with collections.

Thanks to Ms. Lewis, Flagler County is now recycling their unwanted campaign signs with us. Download flyers with details below, and volunteers are welcome and urged to help Suze and Fred, (now in their 80s) load signs on November 20-21 at the Fairgrounds. Join in and do your part!  

! CANDIDATES ! After the elections, save your metal stakes and take
any unwanted signs to your nearest Club Office or Party Headquarters and drop them off.
Questions? Text or call Suze Peace at 386-837-5469 or email:10sfpeace [at] gmail.com