Adopt-A-Highway Day

Nova Scotia highways are going to receive a spring cleaning soon thanks to the province's Adopt-A-Highway volunteers.

And to recognize their hard work removing litter from provincial roads and highways, the province is once again proclaiming May 4 as Adopt-A-Highway Day.

"The hard work of volunteers encourages a healthy environment for Nova Scotians and for everyone who visits our province," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "It is important to recognize the work of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and co-ordinators who do so much good work across the province."

"Adopt-A-Highway volunteers take great pride in their communities," said Gaynol Keith, co-ordinator, Adopt-A-Highway. "Since the program started in 1992, over 10,000 volunteers have collected more than 30,000 bags of garbage."

Mr. Russell asked drivers to slow down around Adopt-A-Highway volunteers dressed in fluorescent orange safety vests who will soon be returning to the roads, picking up litter from adopted sections of highway.

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 Institutes of Nova Scotia, the departments of Transportation and Public Works, Tourism and Culture, and Environment and Labour, as well as the Resource Recovery Fund Board, the Lions Clubs of Nova Scotia and Clean Nova Scotia.

More information about the Adopt-A-Highway Program is available by calling Gaynol Keith at 902-893-6520 or by e-mail to [email protected] . Information is also available on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/wi/projects/adopt.htm .