Trash cleanup volunteers on roads this weekend

MDOT is asking drivers to keep an eye out on state highways for volunteer work crews. They’ll be out on the roads starting this Saturday as part of the fall Adopt-A-Highway pickup program.

The final Adopt-A-Highway pickup of the year runs through Sunday, September 29th. There are pickups in the spring, the summer and the fall each year. Volunteers in the program have been picking up garbage along state highways since 1990.

MDOT says the Adopt-A-Highway crews will be wearing high-visibility yellow-green safety vests. MDOT gives the volunteers the vests and trash bags for free and arranges for pickup of the trash. Adopt-A-Highway volunteers reported collecting about 65,000 bags of trash last year, and their efforts saved the state $5.6 million.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Adopt-A-Highway program can get more information about it on MDOT’s website. There’s no cost to participate.