The first Adopt a Highway cleanup project of the year is set to start this Saturday. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News they had one scheduled for this spring, but it had to be canceled due to COVID-19.
“We expect that this will be a very active pickup,” Weingarten said. “With groups not able to get our earlier in the year, there’s probably some debris left over from the winter.”
Michigan’s Adopt a Highway program has more than 2,700 volunteer groups, ranging from businesses to churches to student organizations. They pledge to pick up trash along a stretch of state road in their area.
“Groups adopt a section of highway for two years. The program is free to participate in, and in exchange for their volunteer service, the groups get an Adopt a Highway sign on their stretch of roadway.”
Weingarten says the Adopt a Highway volunteers collect more than 60,000 bags of trash in a given year, saving the state millions. The program has been around since 1990, and anyone who wants to learn more can go to Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway. When the volunteers hit the road this coming weekend, drivers are asked to be extra cautious. The groups will be masked up and social distancing.
