GARFIERLD HEIGHTS, Ohio — The 2024 election cycle is over and for those who have placed campaign signs in their yard or business this year, you’re probably thinking it’s time to toss the signs in the trash, but you’re wondering deceive! Don’t throw them in the trash; take them to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.

All campaign signs are made from corrugated plastic, paper and metal. All of these materials can be reused and further transformed into other products.

Since this is a very important election cycle that has garnered large voter turnout, this year the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District anticipates that thousands of pounds of campaign signs will be delivered and recycled.

Last year, another important election cycle for the state of Ohio with important issues regarding reproductive health and the legalization of recreational marijuana on the ballot, the solid waste district collected 15 huge filled cardboard boxes of more than 6,000 campaign signs, totaling more than 5,000 pounds of recycled materials.

Matt Walters, recycling program coordinator for the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, said no matter who you voted for, just bring your signs to help reduce the area’s waste.

“The more we can keep that volume out of the landfill, the better,” Walters said. “They will be reused to create something useful. Since so many of them are produced each year, you might as well put them to good use rather than just throwing them away. Recycling is non-partisan, so we accept all posters of any kind and will take whatever we can.

During the last presidential election cycle in 2020, the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District collected more than 3,000 pounds of signs, but is expected to exceed that number this year.

Some other items the waste district is currently collecting are pumpkins to compost. This program ends this Friday. It is estimated that one billion pumpkins end up in landfills each year. When decomposed in landfills, pumpkins can produce methane, which contributes to climate change.

Pumpkin drop-off bin locations:

• Pumpkin Composting Program
• Beachwood: Across from Beachwood Public Works, 23456 Mercantile Road
• Brecksville: Brecksville Service Department, 9023 Brecksville Road
• Independence: Elmwood Recreation Center, 6200 Wisnieski Parkway
• Lakewood: Kauffman Park, 15450 Detroit Avenue.
• Mayfield Heights: Municipal Park, 1533 Chelmsford Road
• Village of Mayfield: Village Services Department, 610 SOM Center Road
• Seven Hills: Calvin Park, 2241 Mapleview Drive
• Strongsville: Youth Sports Park, 21255 Lunn Road
• University Heights: University Heights Library, 13866 Cedar Road
• Westlake: Westlake Police Department, 27300 Hilliard Boulevard

As the holiday season approaches, the trash area collects old Christmas lights, power strips and power cords. When these products are recycled, they will be brought to the Cleveland Metro Zoo as part of the “Lights for Lions” program. This problem helps protect lions and cheetahs in Tanzania.

Items the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District currently collects:

• Campaign signs
• CDs, DVDs and cases
• Cell phones, mobile devices, tablets, GPS, gaming systems and portable electronic devices
• Computers, laptops, printers, CD players, stereos, radios.
  • NO TVs or small appliances
• Light garland, power strips and power cords
• Pack of 6 double plastic rings, holders and handles
• VHS tapes/cassette tapes, digital audio tapes, digital linear tapes, beta, digibeta VHS-C, HI-8 and mini DV.

Drop off recycled materials during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 4750 E 131st Street, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44105. Do not drop off items before or after non-business hours of the establishment. This is considered illegal dumping.