Adopt a Highway

Earlier this week, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recognized ADOT for measurable improvements to the environment through the actions of volunteers participating in our Adopt a Highway volunteer program. This Copper Level award reflects the importance of the more than 6,000 Adopt a Highway volunteers who keep Arizona grand by removing litter along state highways. 

As ADOT’s Adopt a Highway program coordinator,  my experiences interacting with volunteer groups show the best of humankind. Here are just a few examples of volunteer groups making a difference.

It lies between mileposts 180 and 181 of State Route 87, a few minutes north of the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway. Its endpoints are a little north of Mesa Drive and right at Stapley Drive. There’s a deep wash with a culvert about one-third of the mile north of milepost 180, a helpful landmark when dividing both directions for an Adopt a Highway litter pickup. And it’s a little nicer today because of a visit from Elliott Family and Friends, our group that recently adopted this mile.

The Arizona Department of Transportation welcomes 18 of the newest volunteer groups helping keep Arizona highways clean!

These families, groups and organizations recently made a choice to adopt or renew adopted miles and  to reduce litter along highways in their communities:

With National CleanUp Day approaching on Sept. 16, I want to express my thanks to our volunteers who consistently pick up trash along our state highways. 

We hope that existing volunteers and those wanting to participate in a one-day cleanup will register to participate on this day set aside for individuals and organizations to work together in reducing litter in their communities.

Registration begins here for the Sept. 16 annual cleanup event to help reduce litter along Arizona’s state highways.

Welcome back seasoned volunteer groups and all new permit holders. Dust off those litter picker-uppers and head out with friends and family for the 6th annual Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) litter clean up held on National CleanUp Day, Saturday, Sept.16.

Every cleanup day is a new experience for the Prescott Litter Lifters, an Adopt a Highway volunteer group whose beginning dates back to 1981, according to group leader and co-manager Farrish Sharon.

Seven miles of state highway along state routes 69 and 89A are permitted to the group. Recently volunteers responded to a heavily littered site along State Route 69 where 15 bags were filled with personal wipes, water bottles and other trash that had been strewn along the roadway for nearly a mile.

The nation's birthday is a great time to reflect on Arizonans serving the community. Last year, more than 5,900 volunteers assembled to bag litter along adopted miles of state highways. 

These families, groups and organizations made a choice to help reduce litter in their communities while in the pursuit of their own life, liberty and happiness. It’s gesture reflective of the American way. 

ADOT Kids is a website created to spark children’s curiosity in how things work and what makes things go, tapping into their interest in science, technology, engineering and math in a fun way!  ADOT Kids has lots of free, downloadable activity sheets, links to videos and more!   

Melissa Owen has donated hundreds of volunteer planning hours over the past 23 years with Adopt a Highway.

If you’re lucky enough to drive through our scenic state during this National Volunteer Week, please consider the efforts of Adopt a Highway volunteers who help Keep It Grand. 

How many volunteers does it take to keep Arizona highways grand? 

Last year, about 6,000 volunteers picked up 12,500 bags of trash from along Arizona’s highways. The equivalent dollar amount associated with this volunteer effort is about $628,785. Considering that  — that’s a lot of dollars that could be used to dispose of trash properly. 

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week I want to thank these dedicated volunteers who spend personal time and resources year-round helping keep our highways clear of litter.

The Arizona Department of Transportation receives hundreds of complaints about littered highways and more specifically, tire debris. 

ADOT maintenance costs to remove and dispose of tire waste from along maintained roadways have already exceeded $900,000 since July 2022. And that is separate from general litter maintenance operations.

PHOENIX – Last year, the Arizona Department of Transportation along with its maintenance contractors picked up 118,578 bags of trash along freeways in Maricopa County, which translates to approximately 811 tons. This continues an upward trend in the amount of litter accumulation along Valley freeways since 2017.

During the past five years, litter has steadily increased along state freeways in Maricopa County. In 2017, ADOT picked up 80,442 bags of litter compared to the nearly 119,000 bags last year. That’s a 47% increase.

Thank you to volunteers who help keep our villages and not-so-pointy mountains litter-free.

The Arizona Department of Transportation remembers veterans for the commitment made to our great nation and those who continue to serve their communities.

Forty-five veterans groups care for adopted segments along state highways throughout Arizona. These individuals gather to reduce litter in the community and to express honor and remembrance to fallen military, beloved family members and friends.

One community in Happy Jack is celebrating 32 years of particiption in Arizona's Adopt a Highway program!