Adopt-A-Highway Day to Be Celebrated

Adopt-A-Highway volunteers have collected a lot of litter over the last 10 years. Just how much is hard to imagine.

"If you placed all the garbage bags of highway litter that our volunteers have cleaned up over the past 10 years in a row, it would stretch at least 60 kilometres," said Gaynol Keith, co- ordinator of Nova Scotia's Adopt-A-Highway Program.

Adopt-A-Highway is an internationally renowned roadside litter cleanup program. It protects and preserves the environmental health of the landscape and creates scenic routes for motorists. In Nova Scotia, it's supported by the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia in Truro, the Department of Transportation and Public Works, as well as the Lions Clubs of Nova Scotia and Clean Nova Scotia.

Since the program began in Nova Scotia in 1992, more than 150 volunteer groups have adopted over 750 kilometres of roadway.

In recognition of the group's efforts, the province is recognizing Saturday, May 4, as Adopt-A-Highway Day in Nova Scotia.

"We're very proud of the work undertaken by Adopt-A-Highway volunteers," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "They deserve our thanks for their efforts."

Volunteers collect highway litter at least twice a year, usually in the spring and again in the fall. The Department of Transportation and Public Works provides goods and services to the program, including Adopt-A-Highway signs at either end of the adopted roadway.

"The great thing about Adopt-A-Highway is that it gives a sense of ownership to our groups who make this commitment," said Ms. Keith. "We appreciate the support given by our volunteers, as well as the groups that support us, like the departments of Transportation and Public Works, Environment and Labour, and Tourism and Culture, as well as the Lions and Clean Nova Scotia."

For more information about the Adopt-A-Highway Program contact Gaynol Keith at 902-893-6520 or e-mail [email protected] .