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Other Adopt a Highway Programs
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Volunteers make the Adopt a Highway Program possible
Sign up - contact your local Adopt a Highway coordinator.
What is the Adopt a Highway Program?
A public service program for volunteers to pick up litter along Minnesota’s highways. It enables the state’s environmentally conscious citizens to make a personal contribution to a cleaner environment.
How does it work?
Community groups, churches, individuals or businesses adopt a highway by picking up litter on both sides for at least two years.
Adopt a Highway groups agree to:
- Adopt a highway for a minimum of two years.
- Select a segment of highway approximately two miles in length.
- Pick up litter on both sides of a highway.
- Pick up litter as often as it needs it spring through fall, usually two-three times a year. The spring pickup should be done in April or May before the grass grows.
- Notify Mn/DOT after every pickup. Have your Adopt a Highway number when you call.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will:
- Provide safety vests, trash bags and safety information.
- Remove filled bags from the roadsides; remove large, heavy or hazardous items.
- Erect a 3’x5’ highway sign to recognize your group’s commitment. The sign legend is the name of your group only, not its message. It is limited to two lines of 16-18 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
What else should I know?
- Mn/DOT will help your group select a highway to adopt. Roads that have very heavy traffic or are inaccessible to pedestrians are not eligible.
- Your group’s representative will sign an agreement on behalf of the group.
- All participants must review the safety information provided by Mn/DOT before every pickup.
- Participants must be 12 years old, unless specifically permitted. Those participants 18 years old or younger must have adequate adult supervision.
- Work may be restricted on or near holidays or other times when very heavy traffic occurs.
- Groups should leave filled trash bags near the shoulder, but not on the shoulder. Groups are encouraged to recycle materials for their own benefit.
- Groups are not allowed to pick in medians or construction areas.