ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828NewsNow.com) — The midterms came to a close on Election Night, and all the campaign television advertisements also ended.
But on the morning of Nov. 4, something remained all throughout Western North Carolina — the campaign signs. Now, the countdown is on for the signs to be removed, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
According to the state’s General Statute 136-32, any political party that has signs still up more than 10 days after an election is breaking the law. This means during that 10-day time period, candidates are allowed to take down their signs.
This means signs should be taken down by the candidates by the end of the day on Nov. 13. The state said that on the 11th day after an election, anyone “may remove and dispose of such political sign without penalty.”
Buncombe County said in a Nov. 4 news release that it is facilitating a more earth-friendly way to dispose of the signs.
“Residents are invited to help reduce waste by dropping them off at one of three convenient locations. The county is working with Curbie, a local company that collects, processes and sells recyclable materials. While you can’t put those signs in your recycling bin for collection, you have options,” the county said in the release.
These are the locations where the signs can be dropped off in the county:
- Election Services Office, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801
- Curbie’s Woodfin facility, 116 Woodfin Ave, Woodfin NC 28804
“Whether you had a couple of signs or a lot, we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of them in a way that reduces the amount of waste that election season can produce” said Cassandra Lohmeyer, recycling coordinator, Buncombe County Solid Waste, in the release. “We’ve all seen the many signs around the county throughout the election cycle. Disposing of them in an environmentally responsible way can make a positive impact on reducing the amount of trash entering our landfill.”
The recycling program for the signs will close on Dec. 14 in Buncombe County.
In Henderson County, the campaign signs are being recycled through Nov. 11, according to a Nov. 4 news release.
Henderson County Environmental Programs and Henderson County Parks and Recreation are partnering to provide campaign sign recycling drop off in the Jackson Park at 801 4th Ave E.
There will be one dumpster to collect both campaign signs and metal stakes. All metal stakes are accepted but the county said those dropping off signs are encouraged to drop off only corrugated plastic signs and that the signs should be separated from the metal stakes prior to placement in the dumpster.
The release said that candidates may pick up their signs at any time should only recycle the political signs that they have permission to collect.