Going Green - Recycling Yard Signs

 Five years ago when covid shuttered schools, a new trend soon emerged. Yard signs became more than just an effective way to get the word out about upcoming events, they became a way to celebrate the Class of 2020 graduating amidst an unfortunate period of isolation. 

 

And a trend was born. Now, yard signs mark nearly every occasion, grade level, sports, birthdays and more!

 

However, most yard signs have a short lifespan. 

 

Erik Arroyo, President of the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation noticed the proliferation of these signs in his neighborhood. He reflects, “While these signs were powerful advertisements about upcoming activities, the majority were time stamped with a specific date, time, and year, rendering them obsolete once the event concluded. As a result, the vast majority of these signs were discarded once the event ended.” This has a financial and environmental cost. 

 

Arroyo explains, “Yard signs are typically made of corrugated plastic built to withstand harsh weather, erosion, and regular use. This means that when a sign is discarded and reaches a landfill, it can take years to erode.”

 

The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation is giving these signs a new lease on life with their yard sign recycling program. The foundation is collecting expired and unwanted signs. Working with a local vendor, the foundation prints stickers that can be placed over the existing design to reuse the signs. This not only saves signs from the landfill, it reduces costs for the foundation as they support education in their community. The same signs that were headed for the trash now advertise BWEF Little Free Libraries, scholarship recipients, innovation grants. 

 

Arroyo shares, “Recycling unwanted yard signs will have a positive impact on the environment, reduce waste, eliminate the need to order brand new materials, and directly benefit the Baldwin-Whitehall School District community because it gives our residents a sustainable route to repurpose something they don't need anymore.”

 

If you would like to donate your unwanted yard sign(s), contact the foundation at bwef@bwschools.net