HCCO Presents Adopt-a-Highway

On April 6th, HCCO will begin working with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to adopt a 2 mile stretch of highway on Interstate 270.

Each year, ODOT is forced to spend $4 million on litter pick-up…a preventable problem. That money could be used to install 323 culverts, pave 40 miles of a two-lane road, install 340 miles of guardrail, or purchase 28 snowplow trucks.

ODOT’s more than 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups – at least one in each of Ohio’s 88 counties – clean a two-mile section, or interchange, a minimum of four times a year for two years. On average, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers pick up 25,000 bags of trash, saving the Department $280,000 each year.

Gathering together to pick up litter along roadways gives Ohioans cleaner and safer roadways, helps to foster pride in communities, and positively affects healthy economic development. For our efforts, HCCO will get a sign along the 2 mile stretch of highway in Columbus on I-270 from mile marker 24 (I-71) to mile marker 26 (State Rt.23) that reads, “ADOPT A HIGHWAY LITTER CONTROL – THE HUMANIST COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL OHIO”.

WHERE TO MEET:

All volunteers must watch a 7 min long safety video prior to volunteering. We will meet as a team to watch the video in the main conference room of the Westerville Public Library. (If you helped out last time in October, you technically don’t need to watch the video, but we will still use the library as a central meeting spot before we head out.) We will then carpool to the trash pickup location. After the event, we can meet up at a local pub for appetizers and celebratory drinks.

Volunteers between the ages of 12 and 17 will need have their parents or guardian sign a release form. (Please contact Matt Shannon (shannon.matthew@gmail.com if you have someone under the age of 18 that is interested in participating.)

As we will be on the side of a busy highway, volunteers should wear loose fitting, brightly colored clothing, and comfortable work boots or shoes. Work gloves are recommended. ODOT will provide safety vests, trash bags, trash pickers, and road safety signs prior to the event.