Spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to indoor spaces.

PennDOT is looking for some volunteers to adopt sections of highways.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking volunteers to participate in the northwest region’s Adopt-A-Highway programs, which involves cleaning litter from state-owned roadsides,” according to District Press Officer Jill Harry.

“With spring just around the corner, PennDOT northwest region is starting its annual drive to increase participation in the AAH program,”District 1 AAH coordinator Cheryl Wimer said. “Groups can adopt state-owned grassy areas or any of the nearly 3,000 miles currently unassigned.”

“We are looking for members of the communities to partner with us to clean up debris and litter along the roadways and help protect the beauty of Pennsylvania,” Wimer said.

The requirements are pretty straight-forward. “Through PennDOT’s AAH program, volunteers collect litter on a two-mile section of state highway at least two times a year, typically the spring and fall,” Harry said. “In 2021, the statewide program had over 5,000 participating groups, nearly 108,000 registered volunteers, and more than 7,500 miles of adopted state-maintained roadways.”

In the region, the 476 groups in the program have adopted 1,100 miles.

That leaves plenty of work to be done.

“Along with any of the 2,995 miles of roadway, there are other areas in each county that can be adopted,” Harry said. “Roadways and other areas can be adopted by individuals or groups of any sort, including clubs, schools, churches, businesses, and families. In return for their participation, PennDOT posts signs along the roadway giving the volunteers credit for their efforts.”

“Interested groups and individuals can sign up for the program by going online at www.adoptahighway.penndot.gov,” she said.

Information about which sections of highway are available can be found at the website.

“We thank all the volunteers who give their time each year to renew their agreements, register their clean ups efforts and spend a few hours cleaning up garbage along our roadways,” Wimer said. “It goes without saying that we could never do all of this work without them.”