Adopt-a-Highway | Virginia Department of Transportation

Adopt-a-Highway | Virginia Department of Transportation
About
Programs
Adopt-a-Highway
Adopt-a-Highway
Virginia's Adopt-a-Highway program enlists the support of over 20,000 residents in removing litter from Commonwealth roadsides. Running since the 1980s, this program is a key strategy in maintaining a positive travel experience for residents and visitors, and in preventing litter from entering local waterways.​
Adopt-a-Highway volunteer commitment
Adoption period
: three years​
Highway segment
: usually a minimum of 2 miles of VDOT-maintained roadway. This map below shows which roads are available for adoption.
Litter cleanups
: at least two per calendar year. Volunteers agree to report their cleanup to VDOT.​
Age requirements
: must be 18 years old to adopt a highway. Litter cleanup participants must be 10 years old to participate. Any minors aged 10-18 must be accompanied by an adult.​
VDOT commitment
Provides trash bags, safety equipment and safety training​.
Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help determine roadways that are safe and suitable for adoption​.
Install Adopt-a-Highway signs with your group's name at each end of your segment to recognize your commitment to keeping Virginia beautiful​.
Pick up bagged litter from the roadside if you are unable to dispose of it​.
​Please see our
FAQ and Terms and Conditions
to learn more.
Report a pickup
Adopt-a-Highway volunteers can report their pickup.
Report a pickup
How to adopt
VDOT is proud that you would consider joining the growing ranks of over 20,000 Adopt-a-Highway volunteers across Virginia. We all have a shared mission of keeping Virginia beautiful for residents and visitors. This is also a key part of Virginia's environmental strategy to prevent litter from entering wild areas and waterways.
Participation in Virginia's Adopt-a-Highway program is free. Highway Adopters commit to cleaning their stretch of highway at least two times per year, for an adoption period of three years. Highway Adopters must report their pickups to VDOT so we can accurately account for their efforts.
VDOT provides Highway Adopters with safety equipment and trash bags. VDOT will install two signs recognizing your group’s adoption after you have reported two successful litter pickups.
How to apply to Adopt-a-Highway
Review the
Terms & Conditions and Safety Guidelines
Review the
Adopt-a-Highway map
to see which highways are available for adoption. You may also contact your local
Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator
to discuss your interest.
Complete the
Adopt-a-Highway application
and submit it by email to the
local Adopt-a-Highway coordinator
listed for your county.
Adopt-a-Highway map
Adopt-a-Highway map
Review the Adopt-a-Highway map to see which highways are available for adoption.
See map
Terms and conditions
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is offering for “adoption” certain two-mile sections of state-maintained highways. Before offering these roadways, VDOT determines that they are safe and appropriate for adoption.
Under special circumstances, sections of road less than two miles long and dead-end roads may be adopted. Contact your
local VDOT Adopt-a-Highway coordinator
for details.
The local Adopt-A-Highway coordinator is the VDOT contact for adopting groups and individuals. Volunteer groups should contact the coordinator at the
local VDOT Residency office
Local business, informal groups, families, and formal organizations, such as civic, social or school groups, may adopt highways and Park and Rides.
VDOT will pay for producing, installing and maintaining the blue Adopt-A-Highway signs. The sign will display the organization or group name in block letters.
No slogans or logos are allowed on the sign. Signs will be installed after two (2) successful documented pickups within the first 12 months.
Individuals 18 years old or older may adopt highways. Participants between 10 – 17 years may participate in cleanup activities under specified adult supervision (See “Safety Conditions”). Children under 10 years may not participate.
Adopting groups agree to pick up litter on both sides of the roadway at least two times a year.
Participants adopt
for a period of three (3) years
, after which they may renew their contract, modify their contract (example: choose a different section of highway), or end their contract.
VDOT will provide the group with large orange “Cleanup Crew Working” signs to place under the Adopt-A-Highway sign during each pickup, safety vests, and orange trash bags.
The adopting organization’s
Contact Person
is responsible for ensuring that EVERYONE who participates in a pickup under the adopting organization’s permit has first received VDOT-supplied safety information and pickup supplies.
The organization’s
Contact Person
must coordinate with the local AAH Coordinator a visit to a local VDOT residency or area maintenance headquarters at least a week before a scheduled pickup to obtain the pickup supplies.
The
Contact Person
is responsible for notifying VDOT, on the original application and throughout the group’s involvement, if any of the group’s participants has a condition that might necessitate special safety precautions (example: if a participant uses a wheelchair).
The Contact Person is responsible for notifying VDOT, n a group's original application and throughout a group's involvement with the AAH program, of the number of participants under 18 years.  This requirement includes children of the group's members or any other minors who are allowed by the adopting group to participate in a pickup.
If the adopting group does not plan to dispose of the filled trash bags, the
Contact Person
must indicate the date and location of bags that were left when reporting the pickup. This alerts the local VDOT office to schedule a work crew to dispose of the trash bags during the following week.
VDOT encourages participants to separate and recycle recyclable materials. VDOT will not be responsible to collect or dispose of recyclable materials.
VDOT encourages AAH participants to schedule one of their two yearly pickups during April and one pickup during September, to coincide with the spring "Earth Day" and the autumn "Day to Serve."
Pickup Reporting: It is the
Contact Person’s
responsibility to complete the
online pickup report form
for every pickup in order to keep the Adopt-A-Highway permit in good standing. You may also send the pickup information directly to your
local Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator’s email
. Reporting is vital for the adopting organization to get credit for keeping Virginia Beautiful. If VDOT does not receive at least two pickup reports per year, your AAH Coordinator will send one reminder, then if no pickup report is received, will notify you of a pending permit cancelation.
The Adopt-A-Highway coordinator will monitor the program in his or her area. VDOT reserves the right to deny any adoption request or cancel the adoption permit of any group, individual or business, based on any of these criteria:
a. Concern for the safety of the participants, passing motorists or VDOT employees
b. Expenses to VDOT above the normal Adopt-A-Highway program expenses
c. Effectiveness of the participating group’s litter-control efforts
d. Potential harm to the public image of the AAH program or of VDOT
e. Non-Compliance with stated AAH Program rules and regulations
VDOT reserves the right to limit the number of adoptions for a single group and to limit shared adoptions to areas of identified need. For shared adoptions, each group must file a separate permit and participate in four pickups annually.
Before a group applies to adopt a particular roadway, the group's Contact Person should examine the road on the days and during the hours that the group intends to perform pickups to determine if roadside conditions during those times are appropriate for the ages and abilities of the group's members.
Once the group has adopted a particular roadway, if at any time it feels its adopted section of roadway has become unsafe for litter pickups, the group's Contact Person must contact the local VDOT Adopt-a-Highway coordinator. Local VDOT residency offices are listed online at VDOT Adopt-a-Highway
Adoption Coordinators
. VDOT will assign the group a section of roadway with which it is more comfortable.
Participants must hold at least one safety meeting per year to review VDOT-supplied safety information. No one may participate in a pickup unless he or she has attended this meeting within the last 12 months. The participating group may hold the safety meeting immediately before a pickup; however, this meeting must be held in a safe, appropriate area, such as a parking lot.
The participants are responsible for putting up or opening the "Cleanup Crew Working" signs before each pickup and for removing or closing the sign after they have finished that day's pickup. These signs alert passing motorists that Adopt-a-Highway volunteers are on the side of the road ahead. If the signs are left open when no pickups are being conducted, motorists will begin to ignore the signs, creating a serious safety risk for Adopt-a-Highway volunteers when they are on the roadside.
Adopt-a-Highway groups must provide at least one adult supervisor for every six children under 18 years old. For example: a group of between one and six children would need one supervisor, and a group of between seven and 12 children would need two adult supervisors.
Adoption coordinators
The Adopt-a-Highway program is managed by local coordinators in each VDOT residency. Contact your local area coordinator for questions or to apply to Adopt-a-Highway. General Adopt-a-Highway inquiries may be sent to the statewide coordinator at
adoptahighway@vdot.virginia.gov
Note:
In the Hampton Roads area, the seven cities (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News) have their own programs. Check their websites.
Counties
Residency
Email
Phone
Smyth, Washington
Abingdon
aah-abingdon@vdot.virginia.gov
276-676-5503
Accomack, Northampton
Accomac
aah-accomac@vdot.virginia.gov
757-787-5856
Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell, Nelson
Appomattox
aah-appomattox@vdot.virginia.gov
434-352-7135
Charles City, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico ,New Kent
Ashland
aah-ashland@vdot.virginia.gov
804-585-3564
Bedford, Franklin
Bedford
aah-bedford@vdot.virginia.gov
540-586-7910
Albemarle, Greene, Madison
Charlottesville
aah-charlottesville@vdot.virginia.gov
434-293-0011
Amelia, Chesterfield, Powhatan
Chesterfield
aah-chesterfield@vdot.virginia.gov
804-674-2800
Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski
Christiansburg
aah-christiansburg@vdot.virginia.gov
540-381-7201
Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren
Edinburg
aah-edinburg@vdot.virginia.gov
540-984-5600
Arlington, Fairfax
Fairfax
aah-fairfax@vdot.virginia.gov
703-259-1786
Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Prince Edward
Farmville
aah-farmville@vdot.virginia.gov
434-505-3424
Greensville, Isle of Wright, Southampton, Sussex
Franklin
aah-franklin@vdot.virginia.gov
757-346-3072
Caroline, Spotsylvania, Stafford
Fredericksburg
aah-fredericksburg@vdot.virginia.gov
540-899-4300
Halifax, Pittsylvania
Halifax
aah-halifax@vdot.virginia.gov
434-476-6342
Page, Rockingham, Augusta
Harrisonburg
aah-harrisonburg@vdot.virginia.gov
540-434-2586
Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell
Lebanon
aah-lebanon@vdot.virginia.gov
276-889-7600
Alleghany, Bath, Highland
Lexington
aah-lexington@vdot.virginia.gov
540-463-3108
Loudoun
Loudoun
aah-loudoun@vdot.virginia.gov
703-737-2000
Fluvanna, Louisa, Orange
Louisa
aah-louisa@vdot.virginia.gov
540-967-3710
Henry, Patrick, Carroll
Martinsville
aah-martinsville@vdot.virginia.gov
276-629-2581
Hampton
Norfolk
aah-norfolk@vdot.virginia.gov
King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland
Northern Neck
aah-northernneck@vdot.virginia.gov
804-333-3696
Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Prince George
Petersburg
aah-petersburg@vdot.virginia.gov
804-863-4000
Prince William
Prince William
aah-princewilliam@vdot.virginia.gov
703-366-1924
Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke
Salem
aah-salem@vdot.virginia.gov
540-387-5488
Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William ,Mathews, Middlesex
Saluda
aah-saluda@vdot.virginia.gov
804-758-2321
Brunswick, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg
Southhill
aah-southhill@vdot.virginia.gov
434-774-2300
Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock
Warrenton
aah-warrenton@vdot.virginia.gov
540-347-6441
James City, Surry, York
Williamsburg
aah-williamsburg@vdot.virginia.gov
757-253-5138
Dickenson, Lee, Scott, Wise
Wise
aah-wise@vdot.virginia.gov
276-328-9331
Bland, Grayson, Wythe
Wytheville
aah-wytheville@vdot.virginia.gov
276-228-2153
Frequently asked questions
Visit the
adoption section
to learn more. We recommend first reviewing the
Terms & Conditions and Safety Guidelines
to get familiar with what participation in Adopt-a-Highway entails. Next you will submit your application by email to the
local Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator
for your county.
Once you have submitted the application and VDOT approves you, you will
receive a permit for three years. Your coordinator will explain how to obtain
safety vests, “crew working” signs, orange trash bags, and important safety
training. After two documented pickups, VDOT will install your group’s
Adopt-a-Highway sign recognizing your group’s adoption.
This map
shows you which roadway segments are already adopted and which
are available for adoption through VDOT. You can choose a route that is
convenient to your home or workplace or one that you notice has a problem
with litter accumulation. We recommend visiting the roadway segment
during the day and time that you anticipate collecting litter to verify that you
feel comfortable with the traffic level, speed, and shoulders. Your local
Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator will work with VDOT staff to ensure a route is
safe prior to approving your application.
If you are unsure of a highway segment to choose, contact your local Adopt-
a-Highway Coordinator; they maintain a list of recommended highway
segments based on VDOT assessment.
In most cases, we ask you adopt a minimum of two miles. Volunteers are
responsible for cleaning the roadside on each side of the adopted section.
However, volunteers are asked to refrain from collecting litter from any
medians, if present, to ensure your safety.
There's no cost to volunteers, who provide a great service to VDOT and the Commonwealth.
As many as it takes. We recommend you have enough so pickups are manageable. We do have volunteers who make solo adoptions and are comfortable working their area by themselves.
That depends on traffic volume, road location, group size and pickup frequency.
Most say pickups are not taxing. But if you’re an individual who's adopted a highly traveled road to a landfill, you may have your work cut out for you.
The local Adopt-a-Highway coordinator can help determine the condition of the road before you adopt.
With your name on an Adopt-a-Highway sign, you’ll be recognized as community members who take action.
You’ll receive VDOT’s full support in achieving clean roadsides. We'll supply bags, vests and a friendly ear at our local office.
You’ll be part of a top-notch environmental effort, joining tens of thousands of other Virginians in a program that's been nationally recognized for "superior progress in the prevention and collection of litter."
Children are allowed to participate in highway adoptions and cleanups. However, there are very specific rules and procedures the group must follow for safety.
The group's contact person must inform VDOT if anyone under age 18 will participate in any of the group's pickups.
No one under 18 may participate in interstate or interchange cleanups. Groups must provide at least one adult supervisor for every six children under 18.
Set a date and time convenient for all participants. Be sure the pickup is in daylight hours. Avoid rush hour.
Gather the group before passing out safety vests and orange bags. Check to see that everyone has gloves and closed-toe shoes.
Take a few minutes to review basic safety issues.
You should then be ready to start bagging trash.
You may dispose of the collected trash yourself if you are able to.
If you cannot dispose of the trash, you may leave the bags on the roadside in
one or two places. When you submit your pickup report form, indicate that
you left bags and leave a detailed comment as to where they were left,
ideally noting the closest mile marker or intersection. This is crucial to notify
VDOT to send crews to collect the bags.
As part of your Adopt-a-Highway permit agreement, each group must a select primary contact person. This person should ensure that they, or another person in the group, submits the
Pickup Report form
as soon as possible after completing the pickups. This allows VDOT to keep your permit in good standing, and to monitor the collective impact of Adopt-a-Highway volunteers’ litter removal across Virginia.
Participants agree to clean their adopted stretch of highway at least two times a year for three years.
Some volunteers do pickups more frequently. If you conduct pickups at regular intervals, you can estimate how often they need to be done to keep your section of road clean.
Yes. "In Memory Of …" adoptions are permitted.
No. Signs are intended to recognize you or your group, not your message. Space is limited to 48 characters.
Yes. However, business names on signs need to be the actual business name, with no additional advertising.
For example: "B.J. Smith, A Tree-Cutting Service" wouldn’t be allowed if "A Tree-Cutting Service" wasn’t part of the business name.
Unless it's the name of your business, websites aren't permitted on signs.
Adopt-a-Highway volunteers clean more than 8,000 miles of highways annually.
Research has shown that Adopt-a-Highway roadsides are less littered than those maintained by road crews.
Children and young adults who pick up litter learn valuable lessons that can lead to life-long environmental awareness.
Seeing volunteers at work along the road often makes motorists think before carelessly discarding trash.
It started in Texas in 1985.
In Virginia, the program began in 1988 and is one of the largest programs in the country.
Today, 48 states and Puerto Rico have instituted Adopt-a-Highway programs, along with Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain. That's put one million volunteers to work along the road.
It has sparked many related programs, including Adopt-a-Spot, Adopt-a-Street and Adopt-a-Stream.
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