Fast facts:

• The final Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of the year is Sept. 25-Oct. 3.

• Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect more than 60,000 bags of litter annually.

• Sections of highway are still available to adopt. Go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information.

Motorists should be on the lookout as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers in the popular Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program fan out across the state to collect litter along highway roadsides from Saturday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 3.

This is the third and final scheduled pickup period of the year.

Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,900 groups cleaning 6,000 miles of highway.

Beginning Saturday, volunteers wearing high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests will clear up their adopted stretches of highway. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags and arranges to haul away the trash.

Getting involved in the program is easy. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years; there is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups are recognized with signs bearing a group’s name posted along stretches of adopted highway.

 Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups should check the MDOT Adopt-A-Highway website at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information and the name of their county’s coordinator, who can specify available roadsides.

April 17-25

Volunteers will fan out out across lower Michigan to give state highway roadsides their annual spring-cleaning beginning Saturday as groups in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program pick up litter from April 17 to 25.

The first AAH pickup for the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula will be later, from May 1 to 9, when spring has had more time to set in.

“Our thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers deserve thanks for helping to save taxpayer dollars while keeping Michigan roadsides clean,” said State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “Their community spirit and pride make a huge difference. We ask all motorists to keep an eye out for these volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods.”

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 17 to 25 and a fall pickup from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3.

The AAH program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, around 2,900 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway. In a typical year, these volunteers collect 60,000 to 70,000 bags of trash annually, an estimated $5 million value for the state. Last year was anything but typical, though. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first pickup of 2020 was cancelled. While the summer and fall pickups went forward with COVID precautions in place, groups collected around 20,000 bags of trash. Organizers speculate the numbers were down because fewer groups were able to participate, not necessarily because there was less trash on the highways.

AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old, and each group must number at least three people. MDOT requires all AAH volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. AAH signs bearing a group’s name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

Several landfills in southwestern Michigan are also chipping in to help the AAH program. Westside Landfill in St. Joseph County, C&C Landfill in Calhoun County, Orchard Hill Landfill in Berrien County, Southeast Berrien County Landfill near Niles, and Republic Services Gembrit Circle Transfer Station in Kalamazoo have all agreed to accept trash generated by the three annual AAH pickups at no charge. In exchange, these businesses receive a sign recognizing their support.

For more information, go to www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.

July 13, 2020—Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out along state roadways from Copper Harbor to Benton Harbor picking up litter. Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 18 to 26 during the first pickup this year. A spring pickup period was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. 

In accordance with Gov. Whitmer’s recent executive order, MDOT requires all Adopt-A-Highway volunteers to wear a mask outdoors when they are unable to consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household.

Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,750 groups cleaning 6,300 miles of highway.

Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members must be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags and arranges to haul away the trash.

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.

The year’s final Adopt-A-Highway pickup is scheduled for the fall, from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. 

As summer gives way to fall, volunteers will soon fan out along Michigan state roadsides looking for trash during the year’s final Adopt-A-Highway pickup. Thousands of volunteers in the popular Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will be picking up litter from Saturday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Sept. 29.

There are three scheduled Adopt-A-Highway pickups each year: one each in the spring, summer and fall. Volunteers in Michigan have been participating in the program since 1990. Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect 65,000 to 70,000 bags of trash. The popular program has grown to involve nearly 2,800 groups cleaning 6,100 miles of highway.

Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday for volunteers wearing high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew-members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Interested groups can get more information at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.

Volunteers  will  soon  be  scouring  the  roadsides  looking  for  trash  during  the  year’s  final  Adopt-A-Highway  pickup.  Thousands  of  volunteers  in  the  popular  Michigan  Department  of  Transportation  (MDOT)  program  will  be  picking  up  litter  along  highway  roadsides  from  Saturday,  Sept.  22,  through  Sunday,  Sept.  30.  

There  are  three  scheduled  Adopt-A-Highway  pickups  each  year:  one  each  in  the  spring,  summer  and  fall.  Volunteers  in  Michigan  have  been  participating  in  the  program  since  1990.  Every  year,  Adopt-A-Highway  volunteers  collect  65,000  to  70,000  bags  of  trash.  The  popular  program  has  grown  to  involve  more  than  2,800  groups  cleaning  6,300  miles  of  highway.  

Motorists  should  be  on  the  lookout  beginning  Saturday  for  volunteers  wearing  high-visibility,  yellow-green  safety  vests.  MDOT  provides  free  vests  and  trash  bags,  and  arranges  to  haul  away  the  trash.  

Volunteers  include  members  of  civic  groups,  businesses  and  families.  Crew  members  have  to  be  at  least  12  years  old  and  each  group  must  number  at  least  three  people.  

Sections  of  highway  are  still  available  for  adoption.  Interested  groups  should  check  the  MDOT  Adopt-A-Highway  website www.michigan.gov/adoptahighwayfor  more  information  and  the  name  of  their  county’s  coordinator,  who  can  specify  available  roadsides.  Groups  are  asked  to  adopt  a  section  of  highway  for  at  leasttwo  years;  there  is  no  fee  to  participate.  Adopt-A-Highway  volunteer  groups  are  recognized  with  signs  bearing  a  group’s  name  posted  along  stretches  of  adopted  highway.  

Several  landfills  in  southwestern  Michigan  are  also  helping  the  Adopt-A-Highway  program.  Westside  Landfill  in  St.  Joseph  County,  C&C  Landfill  in  Calhoun  County,  Orchard  Hill  Landfill  in  Berrien  County,  Southeast  Berrien  County  Landfill  near  Niles,  and  Republic  Services  Gembrit  Circle  Transfer  Station  in  Kalamazoohave  all  agreed  to  accept  trash  generated  by  the  three  annual  AAH  pickups  at  no  charge.  In  exchange,  these  businesses  will  receive  a  sign  recognizing  their  support. 

Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out along state roadways from Calumet to Kalamazoo picking up litter. Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 14 to 22 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year.

Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers regularly collect 65,000 to 70,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,800 groups cleaning 6,300 miles of highway.

Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway.

The year’s final Adopt-A-Highway pickup is scheduled for the fall, from Sept. 22 to 30.

The JCI Meadowbrook and Battery Test Facility team during the spring pickup in 2017.

Highway roadsides across lower Michigan will get a spring cleaning beginning Saturday as volunteers in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program head out to pick up litter from April 14 to 22.

Due to snow still on the ground in some areas, the first Adopt-A-Highway pickup for the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula will be later, from April 28 to May 6.

“The thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers deserve our thanks for helping keep Michigan roadsides clean and attractive,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “We all benefit from their community spirit and pride. We ask all motorists to watch out for the volunteers and drive carefully during the pickup periods.”

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 14 to 22 and a fall pickup from Sept. 22 to 30.

The AAH program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, more than 2,800 groups have adopted more than 6,300 miles of state highway. These volunteers collect 65,000 to 70,000 bags of trash annually, an estimated $5 million value for the state. AAH groups wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must number at least three people.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing a group’s name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

Two sections of US-131 in Cedar Springs/Sand Lake that are open are from 18 to 16 Mile and 22 to 20 Mile.

For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway. 

Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out along state roadways from Ironwood to Detroit picking up litter. Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 15 to 23 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year.

“These dedicated Adopt-A-Highway volunteers help maintain our highways as a source of pride for every community in Michigan,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “Let’s show our respect for their hard work by staying alert during the summer pickup and driving with extra caution when we see these crews on the roadside.”

Every year, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect more than 60,000 bags of trash. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,800 groups cleaning 6,400 miles of highway.

Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Montcalm County, for example, has least 10 sections available. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway.

The year’s final Adopt-A-Highway pickup is scheduled for the fall, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1.

First litter pickup April 15

Highway roadsides across lower Michigan get their first cleanup of the year beginning Saturday. Volunteers in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) program will pick up litter from April 15 to 23.

Due to snow still on the ground in some areas, the first Adopt-A-Highway pickup for the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula will be later, from April 29 to May 7.

“Adopt-A-Highway volunteers take great pride in keeping Michigan roadsides clean,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “We have tremendous appreciation for their hard work. Please be alert and drive with caution when you see the crews picking up.”

Volunteers pick up litter three times each year. Statewide, there will be a summer pickup from July 15 to 23 and a fall pickup from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1.

Dedicated AAH volunteers collected about 65,000 bags of trash last year, an estimated $5 million value for the state. Volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations when working within a highway right of way. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

The AAH enters its 27th year in 2017 with more than a quarter century of accomplishments behind it. There are 2,887 groups currently active in the program, and they’ve collected more than 2 million bags of litter the state’s roadsides since 1990. Currently, 6,400 miles of highway are adopted.

Current volunteers include members of various civic groups, businesses, and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must number at least three people.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Groups are asked to adopt a section for at least two years. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing a group’s name are posted along the stretch of adopted highway. There is no fee to participate.

Several landfills in southwestern Michigan are also chipping in to help the Adopt-A-Highway Program. Westside Landfill in Cass County, C&C Landfill in Calhoun County, Orchard Hill Landfill in Berrien County, and Republic Services Gembrit Circle Transfer Station in Kalamazoo, have all agreed to accept trash generated by the three annual scheduled AAH pickups at no charge. In exchange, they receive a sign recognizing their support. Most of these landfills have been making this contribution since 2010.

For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway.

It’s that time again: a chill is in the air, leaves are beginning to turn, and crews are getting ready for the year’s last Adopt-A-Highway pickup along state roadways. Participants in the popular Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will be picking up litter along highway roadsides from Saturday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 2.

“We’d like to thank our thousands of Adopt-A-Highway crews for their dedication and hard work to help keep Michigan roadsides clean,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “Every year, these volunteers provide a financial boost for MDOT and our entire state. Their service is greatly appreciated.”

There are three scheduled Adopt-A-Highway pickups each year: one each in the spring, summer and fall. Michigan volunteers have been participating in the program since 1990. Every year, Adopt-A-Highway crews collect about 70,000 bags of trash. The volunteer efforts of nearly 3,200 Adopt-A-Highway groups generate about $5 million annually in value for state taxpayers.

During the pickup period, motorists should be on the lookout for volunteers wearing high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.
Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must number at least three people.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups should check the MDOT Adopt-A-Highway website at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway for more information and the name of their county’s coordinator, who can specify available roadsides. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years; there is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway volunteer groups are recognized with signs bearing a group’s name posted along stretches of adopted highway.

Motorists should be on the lookout beginning Saturday as thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers head back to state roadways to pick up litter. Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) program will clean highway roadsides from July 16 to 24 during the second of three scheduled pickups this year.

“We have tremendous appreciation for the Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and their dedication to keeping Michigan roadsides clean,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “Please be alert during the litter pickup period and drive cautiously when you see these crews at work.”

Every year, dedicated Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collect about 70,000 bags of trash, generating about a $5 million value annually for state taxpayers. The popular program began in 1990 and has grown to involve nearly 3,000 groups cleaning 6,400 miles of highway.

Getting involved in the program is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups can get more information at www.michigan.gov/adoptahighway.

The year’s final Adopt-A-Highway pickup is scheduled for the fall, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2.