Adopt a Highway: National CleanUp Day volunteers scream about litter

ADOT volunteers uncovered some interesting and what some might call scary trash during Saturday’s National CleanUp Day event in Loop 202 right of way in Tempe. 

Pre-Halloween chuckles resounded when a well-worn mask depicting a character from the 1996 horror film “Scream” reared its ugly head. That helped keep everyone motivated and on their toes. 

Twenty-two highway heroes joined the cleanup, including nine ADOT employees, two representatives from the Maricopa Association of Governments public relations firm Off Madison Avenue and one person who interrupted a morning walk to grab a bag and join in. 

Michaela Mora, that last-minute volunteer, said, “I am always walking here in the morning and see a bunch of trash, so I thought it would be pretty awesome to help out.”

Edgar Serna also gave up his Saturday morning to join us. He said, “I want to be part of something greater than myself to help the community.” Serna walked away with an interesting find and a project in mind for two intact solar panels uncovered near the Salt River bottom. 

Return volunteer Brynlee Rogers, who was crowned Arizona winner of a national junior ambassador program, shared her thoughts on community service. “It really is my passion to make sure that roadways across the United States are clear of litter and debris, and I love being able to help my community.” Rogers said.

This was ADOT’s second hosted cleanup in 2024 for volunteers in the Phoenix metro area. The idea came after the first well-attended Earth Day event held in April. Most adoptable segments in the Valley are located on state highways where it is safer for volunteers to work along the side of the roadway. Those segments are mostly on the outermost edges of Maricopa County and on some parts of US 60 in the East Valley.

We are thankful to Rogers and all of our volunteers whose passion for reducing litter brought them out on National CleanUp Day to have some fun. 

Saturday’s final litter haul included 23 filled bags weighing about 500 pounds. Check out our photos in ADOT’s Flickr album.

If you’d like to be a part of the litter solution, please visit azdot.gov/AdoptaHighway for help finding an  adoptable segment near you. Arizona, keep it grand.