OHIO — In honor of Earth Day, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced it's now spending $10 million to help keep roadsides clean throughout the year. 

So far, in 2024, ODOT crews have collected 89,000 bags of trash, according to a press release. 

What You Need To Know

  • For Earth Day, quite of few of the state's 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups will be out trying to help clean up highways to protect the planet

  • Over the weekend, Diane Bovee with First Universalist Church in Lyons organized a little pickup along a section of State Route 120

  • Others plan to do it this week, such as the Columbus Grove Lions Club in Putnam County, which has participated in the program since 1991 according to ODOT

  • ODOT said adopting a highway is free for groups and individuals

“Our highway crews are out on litter patrol all year, even through the winter when conditions allow. But come spring, litter reveals itself even more, especially as vehicle travel increases and people begin spring cleanup,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks in a press release.

For Earth Day, quite of few of the state’s 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups will be out trying to help clean up highways to protect the planet. Some crews have already gotten a head start.

Over the weekend, Diane Bovee, with First Universalist Church in Lyons, organized a little pickup along a section of State Route 120.

“We love doing the highway pickup. We’re among the oldest Adopt-A-Highway groups in Ohio. We have done it for close to 30 years,” said Bovee in a press release. “We’re not a small church, we’re a tiny church. We just think it’s the right thing to do.”

Others plan to do it this week, such as the Columbus Grove Lions Club in Putnam County, which has participated in the program since 1991 according to ODOT.

“It comes down to pride in your community. We have so many people that drive through Columbus Grove on State Route 65. It’s a good opportunity for the Lions Club to practice volunteerism,” said Tim Staley, club member, in a press release.

ODOT said adopting a highway is free for groups and individuals. They are asked to complete at least four little pick-up sessions each year, and ODOT provides important materials like vests, trash bags and more. 

While Adopt-a-Highway groups help collect trash, there are other groups and organizations that do as well, including:

  • Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), which has collected over 24,000 bags of trash since January of this year.

  • Interstate Business Solutions (IBS), which works in metropolitan areas like Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Canton and Youngstown. Since January, the IBS team has collected over 31,343 bags of trash.

  • Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) helps clean roadsides and encampment areas of unhoused individuals. Since January, it has collected nearly 25,000 bags of trash.