Adopt a Highway

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. 

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!

On National CleanUp Day on Sept. 17, 39 volunteer groups and 215 individual volunteers in 11 counties in Arizona filled 335 litter bags and gathered larger debris into piles for disposal totalling 2.3 tons. 

PHOENIX – Earlier this month, 39 Arizona Department of Transportation Adopt a Highway Volunteer groups consisting of more than 200 individuals hit the highways across the state to pick up trash for National Clean Up Day. The groups collectively picked up more than two tons of litter and debris.

“We are so thankful to our volunteers who came out for National Clean Up Day this year,” said Mary Currie, ADOT’s Adopt a Highway coordinator. “Our volunteers help us keep the highways clean year round.”

Celebrate Adopt a Highway with frames and GIFs on your social media.

Adopt a Highway volunteers, assemble! We've got pointers for National CleanUp Day!

Registration opens Aug. 17 for Adopt a Highway volunteer groups and others wanting a one-day permit to clean litter along a designated one- or two-mile segment of highway.

National Cleanup Day is Saturday, Sept. 17. Mark your calendar and watch for registration information in the coming weeks.

Have you thought about becoming an Adopt a Highway volunteer? Here's all you need to know about joining the program and keeping Arizona grand.