One of the first things visitors observe as they travel West Virginia highways is the cleanliness of our roads, but also the unsightly litter that tarnishes the state’s image. Saturday, September 28, is the Division of Highways (DOH) Adopt a Highway event. The plan administered by WVDEP’s REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan) has the goal to improve the quality of the state’s environment by encouraging the public to get involved in eliminating highway litter.

The program is designed to clean up almost all state-maintained roads, back roads, or main routes; private roads and interstate highways do not qualify. Individuals, families, churches, businesses, schools, and other agencies and organizations ban together to pick up trash. The program provides volunteers with garbage bags, work gloves, and safety vests and takes care of disposing of collected trash.

The Adopt a Highway program is nationwide, however each state is responsible to implement it at least three times a year. Those who sign up to adopt a highway do so for a two year period. Travelers’ opinions of West Virginia are often based on what they observe as they drive along our highways. Therefore, it is more important than ever that residents uncover the beauty of West Virginia by removing unsightly litter that tarnishes the state’s image.

REAP, whose new motto is ‘Keeping WV Clean and Green,’ was created in 2005 and strives to clean up West Virginia and rid the state of litter. The program empowers citizens to take ownership of their communities by providing technical, financial, and resource assistance in cleanup and recycling efforts.

The objective is to save taxpayer money by increasing public awareness and to serve as an educational tool by focusing on the consequences of littering. The program offers volunteers the opportunity to take charge of their own environment by making a positive effort to create a cleaner place in which to live. Volunteers who complete six required litter pickups within the two-year contract period are awarded a certificate of accomplishment signed by the Governor.

In West Virginia there are currently 25,000 volunteers who regularly pick up litter on 4,000 miles of highway. They have been responsible for removing more than 40 million pounds of litter since the program began. You, too, can be a special person by taking responsibility for your environment and adopting a highway.

The act of picking up litter provides immediate satisfaction. The moment you see a cleaner street curb, sidewalk, trail, or riverbed, you feel a tangible and fulfilling sense of accomplishment, by knowing it is the result of your work! It’s a reward that reminds us of the power we possess to bring about positive change, one small step at a time.

As with all the existential environmental challenges we face today, everyone has a role to play if the tide is to be definitively turned. You might not have a science degree, or a role in government, but we can all pick up the rubbish that is lying right in front of us. It is not the only solution, but it is a critical component of the solution required for this complex problem.

By removing litter and long-lasting plastic, metal, and glass from our surroundings, we contribute to the overall health of our living space. Plastic waste, especially, poses a significant threat to wildlife and ecosystems. Each piece of trash picked up is a step towards reducing pollution and preventing destruction of habitat. So go clean up a bit, make an impact, and trust me: You Will Not Regret It!