Tag Archive for: #adoptahighway

NCDOT

Town Talk 09/16/20: Mentality Large Part of Litter Problem; Adopt-A-Highway May Help

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

WIZS Town Talk host John Charles Rose discussed roadside trash and what he thinks of those that litter on Wednesday’s edition of Town Talk at 11 a.m.

Specifically, Rose mentioned Graham Avenue in Henderson, an area, he said, that is well-kept around the business portion near Ruin Creek Road but has issues with roadside debris and uncut grass just a short distance away.

In a drive through the area recently, Rose said he was dismayed by the litter in a location that serves as a gateway to the city, but was also encouraged by the community service witnessed in a recognized acquaintance.

“Here’s this great man on the side of the road [picking up trash]. Bob Fleming, I saw you out there yesterday. Thanks for what you’re doing. I’m sorry you’ve got to do it. Thanks for being strong for your community.”

Short of changing the mentality of those that litter, Rose said the best solution may be local groups, organizations and individuals working together on litter cleanups through the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program.

Established in 1988 in response to growing concern about roadway trash and debris, the NCDOT asks volunteer groups to commit at least four years of volunteer service to a two-mile stretch of roadway. Litter cleanups happen at least four times a year, and sometimes more frequently on heavily-traveled roads.

According to the NCDOT website, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers must be at least 12 years old. Children ages 12-17 must be supervised by an adult who is at least 21.

Participants are provided with safety training, safety vests and trash bags.

To volunteer with Adopt-A-Highway, interested groups should first use the litter management map to determine roadway availability and then request a segment when submitting their application online or by mail.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Vance County Logo

Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers Needed to Tackle Local Litter Problem

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Vance County Appearance Commission

The Vance County Appearance Commission is seeking help from citizens in our community to join together to improve the appearance of Henderson and Vance County.

We can all help with this endeavor by doing some small and easy things like throwing trash in proper receptacles, recycling appropriate items and doing what we can to keep the property around our homes and businesses as clean and orderly as possible.

Through the years, we have found that citizens joining the N.C. Adopt-A-Highway Program have made a real difference in improving the appearance of our community with their efforts. Groups who join the Adopt-A-Highway Program simply commit to cleaning up a two-mile stretch of a roadside in our county at least four times each year and report their clean-up efforts to the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Officials with NCDOT will post signs at each end of the adopted section of roadside with the Adopt-A-Highway group’s name on the signs to show their participation in the program. The local Adopt-A-Highway coordinator will work with each group to record their efforts and ensure they have the proper materials, including safety vests, gloves and bags for trash and recyclables, for cleanups.

Individuals and groups joining the Adopt-A-Highway must sign a contract with NCDOT agreeing to remove litter from their adopted roadside a minimum of four times each year. Contracts initially are for four years and can be renewed at the end of the four-year period and if the required number of cleanups have been completed. Volunteers in the Adopt-A-Highway Program also receive safety training.

To become involved in the N.C. Adopt-A-Highway Program, interested persons may visit the N.C. Department of Transportation website at https://apps.ncdot.gov/LM/ or call 1-800-331-5864 for information on the program and how to contact the local program coordinator.

We have about 60 Adopt-A-Highway groups now in Vance County, but we hope local citizens will get involved to create more participating groups to help deal with the roadside litter problems we have in our county. Such efforts would greatly enhance our work to improve the appearance of Vance County.

Our County Appearance Commission also continues to work with county officials to increase recycling efforts in households and businesses, clean up abandoned and unkept properties and encourage the Sheriff’s Department to hire a full-time litter control officer.

To deal with our littering, illegal dumping and abandoned properties issues in an effective manner, it will take all of us working together.