VDOT encourages people to keep roads clean on Earth Day, throughout year

RICHMOND, Va. (DC News Now) — While people marked Earth Day on Monday, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) took the opportunity to encourage people to keep the state’s highways clean.

The day-to-day asks were to dispose of or recycle trash properly, rather than throw it out of car windows, to keep a bag in your car to collect trash until you can dispose of it the right way, and to secure your items in or on vehicles to keep them from falling onto the road.

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VDOT also reminded everyone about its Adopt-a-Highway program which connects individuals, organizations, and businesses with a portion of a road that they take an active role in keeping clean.

Volunteers who are part of Adopt-a-Highway commit to clean a two-mile stretch of VDOT-maintained roadway two times a year for three years.

People have to be at least 18 years old to adopt a roadway. Anyone who participates in cleaning has to be at least 10 years old and accompanied by an adult. VDOT provides volunteers with trash bags and safety equipment and it gives them safety training.

VDOT will put up a sign recognizing the community members who are responsible for cleaning that part of the road after two litter pickups.

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Besides Adopt-a-Highway, the state offers the Beautify Virginia program, which allows community and civic groups, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals to sponsor litter pickups along portions of roadways, with an approved contractor performing the work on their behalf.

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