MIAMI VALLEY -- Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) crews will again hit the highways beginning Saturday to address one of the departmentâs most persistent and preventable problem, litter.
In District 7, crews work year round to keep highways clean and this Saturday, Adopt-A- Highway volunteers will join in the fight to control litter along our roads.
âTaxpayers are on the hook for $4 million every year for litter cleanup,â said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. âThat money could be used to pave roads, buy snowplow trucks or install guardrail or culverts.â
In 2012, ODOT picked up 305,000 bags of litter statewide. In District 7, which represents most of the Miami Valley, ODOT crews picked up 45,761.5 bags of trash at a cost of $556,711.82.
ODOT gets aid from local volunteer groups, such as universities and its Adopt-A-Highway program that pick up litter in conjunction with the âGreat American Cleanup.â
Organized nationally by Keep America Beautiful, the âGreat American Cleanupâ is the country's largest community improvement program, involving an estimated 3 million volunteers.
ODOTâs Adopt-A-Highway program has nearly 1,400 groups â with at least one group in each county â who have adopted a two-mile section or an interchange along the state highway system, picking up litter and debris a minimum of four times each year.
On average, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up 25,000 bags of trash, saving the department $280,000 annually.
District 7 has Adopt-A-Highway groups in all nine counties signed up to pick up litter along their designated roadways and interchanges this Saturday. This yearâs volunteer sign up is one of the largest in our districtâs history. We want to remind motorists to be aware of volunteers along the roadside and remember to slow down and use caution when passing them.
Groups interested in the Adopt-A-Highway program can click here for more information.
In District 7, crews work year round to keep highways clean and this Saturday, Adopt-A- Highway volunteers will join in the fight to control litter along our roads.
âTaxpayers are on the hook for $4 million every year for litter cleanup,â said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. âThat money could be used to pave roads, buy snowplow trucks or install guardrail or culverts.â
In 2012, ODOT picked up 305,000 bags of litter statewide. In District 7, which represents most of the Miami Valley, ODOT crews picked up 45,761.5 bags of trash at a cost of $556,711.82.
ODOT gets aid from local volunteer groups, such as universities and its Adopt-A-Highway program that pick up litter in conjunction with the âGreat American Cleanup.â
Organized nationally by Keep America Beautiful, the âGreat American Cleanupâ is the country's largest community improvement program, involving an estimated 3 million volunteers.
ODOTâs Adopt-A-Highway program has nearly 1,400 groups â with at least one group in each county â who have adopted a two-mile section or an interchange along the state highway system, picking up litter and debris a minimum of four times each year.
On average, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up 25,000 bags of trash, saving the department $280,000 annually.
District 7 has Adopt-A-Highway groups in all nine counties signed up to pick up litter along their designated roadways and interchanges this Saturday. This yearâs volunteer sign up is one of the largest in our districtâs history. We want to remind motorists to be aware of volunteers along the roadside and remember to slow down and use caution when passing them.
Groups interested in the Adopt-A-Highway program can click here for more information.