Volunteers throw shade on trash

A group of passionate individuals gathered last week for a whimsical occasion aimed at casting a shadow on littering and promoting a cleaner environment.

ADOT welcomed 16 volunteers for the inaugural “Groundhog Week” cleanup held Friday, Feb. 6, along  one mile of State Route 74 in north Phoenix. Click here if you’d like to see our photos.

We did not actually witness groundhogs lighting up, but there were plenty of cigarette butts and beverage containers stuffed into 20 bags by the end of the event.

Erik Victoria registered for the cleanup along with friends after seeing an ADOT social media post calling for volunteers.

“We’re kind of big into the offroad world and we feel like it’s our civic duty to come out here and clean up,” Erik said. “We already carry bags and the pickup sticks with us, so when we go out we try to leave places better than we found them. It just makes sense.”

Construction debris, sharp tools and nails capable of puncturing tires were just a few of the items found that no one wants to run into while driving, or worse yet—while having to pull off of the roadway during an emergency.

Adopt a Highway volunteers work through all seasons to keep our highways clean, and everyone can pitch in by securing truck loads properly and items that may escape from an open car window. 

While we are pondering whether winter will last or spring will arrive early, let’s also consider how we can prevent trash from happening. Our next big cleanup is Wednesday, April 22, for Earth Day. If you'd like to get involved please register at azdot.gov/adoptahighway.