What Happens To Billboards In Michigan After They’re Changed?

You drive past countless of them every day. In fact, Michigan has the 3rd most billboards of any state in America, with a 2021 study estimating over 23,000 billboards across the state. But as you travel along the highway, these billboards are constantly changing. For me, the one I notice most is a billboard for a casino advertising concert dates, with a new "tarp" being put up for each new event.

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But what I have always wondered is: how long does it take to replace these signs, and what happens to them after the vinyl is removed?

To get to the bottom of this, I spoke with Susan Ackley, the Vice President and General Manager of Lamar Advertising Company of Muksegon-Grand Rapids, a branch of Lamar Advertising Company that has over 360,000 billboards and other outdoor advertising displays across the US and Canada.

How Long Does It Take To Change A Billboard?

Ackley stated that most billboards typically stay up for at least four weeks but can remain up as long as the advertiser requests, with some campaigns lasting a year or more.

Read More: Detroit Woman Takes Out Billboard Begging Ex to Come Back

Billboard advertisements are printed on vinyl that is very durable and can withstand all types of weather, and won't tear in high winds. Despite their durability, they can be changed quite quickly. How, you ask? A lot easier (and quicker) than you'd expect.

What Happens To Billboard Vinyl After It's Removed?

My long-held belief was that the vinyl taken off a billboard was just thrown in a landfill. However, that isn't necessarily the case: while they can end up in a landfill, you typically see these reused or repurposed. 

At Lamar, the vinyl is "often melted down and recycled into plastic resins" or later "repurposed into eco-friendly products". that are molded into new products such as rail ties, nursery pots, and shipping pallets...and also repurposed into eco-friendly products like surfboard bags, tote bags, and backpacks."

On top of that, the vinyl itself can be reused in its basic form. Companies like repurposedMATERIALS buy used vinyl material to sell, and Lamar has its "Tarp Team" program, which donates billboard vinyl to damaged homes in natural disasters as temporary roofing.

Other vinyl uses include liners for backyard ponds, pools, cars, and wood covers, among others. Essentially, it's a thick, weather-resistant piece of plastic that people have proven pretty creative with. But in the grand scheme, these billboards serve a far broader purpose than just advertising your restaurant.