Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers Spring Clean Local Roads

Each spring, winter-weary Michiganders cheer as the last of the ice and snow disappears from the highways. But when nature’s concealing blanket melts, trash and debris accumulated through the winter months often litters the roadside.

That's where Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) steps in.

Launched by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in 1990, the highway beautification program sends thousands of citizen volunteers out each spring to bag roadside trash. 

Macomb County AAH Coordinator Diane Crumb said the county has 60 active AAH groups that typically remove trash three times each year. Volunteers can represent churches, clubs, civic organizations or businesses. Each sponsored AAH team agrees to "adopt" a two-mile stretch of highway that includes both sides of the road.

Two of the county’s longest-serving AAH groups are based right here in Macomb Township. The Knights of Columbus Council 7200 has been active for 21 years, since AAH began, and teams from have been cleaning up for almost 20 years (since May 1991).

K of C Council 7200 member Keith Verellen has been pitching in for about 15 years. As the council’s AAH chairperson, Verellen organizes the cleanups and keeps track of statistics for MDOT. He said about 21 people went out April 8 to beautify a section of M-53 (Van Dyke) from 27 Mile to 29 Mile.

“We collected 69 bags of trash and it went very quickly,” he said. “The weather held out—it was not too hot. I would say we had a perfect day to clean.”

Other than “sweat equity,” there is no cost to participate. MDOT supplies reflective vests, trash bags and an informative safety DVD. The department also picks up filled bags.

In return, each sponsoring organization receives acknowledgment from a highly visible roadside sign, also provided at no charge from MDOT.

Verellen said he enjoys the bonds he’s formed over the years with others through his AAH service. He highly recommends AAH to other groups.

“It’s knowing you’re making an area of the highway more beautiful. … Besides, if we don’t do it, who will?” he said.

Ray Wiegand’s Nursery General Manager Marvin Wiegand had never missed a scheduled AAH trash pickup in 20 years of volunteering, until about two years ago when he fell and hurt his back.

“It’s a good program for (our volunteers) to feel they’re giving back to their community, and of course it helps us by putting the nursery’s name on a major highway. … Just about everybody who’s worked here any length of time has gone out there,” he said. "It takes about half a day.”

Nursery staff members Maria Bermudez and Bonnie Ternes said they enjoy going out each time.

“It’s to help the community,” Bermudez said. “It’s fun to go–except when people are honking.”

The Department of Transportation is glad to have the extra help as well.

“MDOT appreciates all the hard work that goes into picking up the litter … I want to personally thank all of the groups for their valuable community service,” Crumb said.

For information about Adopt-A-Highway, visit the Michigan Department of Transportation website.