Northern Kentuckians Invited to Adopt-A-Highway! The Counties of Boone, Kenton ‘ Campbell are encouraging residents, companies and schools to adopt highways near them. The original Adopt-A-Highway Program began on March 9, 1985, in Tyler, Texas, and has grown into an international organization. Thousands of groups have joined the program to promote a clean environment in 48 different states, seven Canadian provinces, and in Puerto Rico and New Zealand. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet began the Adopt-A-Highway Program in 1988 to raise environmental awareness and discourage littering. Today, more than 1,600 groups participate in Kentucky’s program, cleaning approximately 6,600 miles annually. Over the past 12 years, Adopt-A-Highway has become a successful educational tool. Participating groups demonstrate the importance of a clean environment by spreading the word and setting the example that littering is unacceptable behavior. The program increases public environmental awareness, reduces littering, expands tourism, creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in our Bluegrass State. Each year, the Transportation Cabinet’s highway workers spend approximately 200,000 hours removing litter from Kentucky’s roadways, collecting over 96,000 bags of litter. The total yearly cost of litter removal averages $4-5 million. Get Involved How can you contribute to your community in Northern Kentucky and make a difference, send a message and educate others, and have fun with friends all at the same time? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-A-Highway Program in Northern Kentucky! By taking personal responsibility for one of your area roadways, you will be setting an example for your community … The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-A-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. As a volunteer, you will save thousands in taxpayer dollars and demonstrate to others the importance of a clean environment. We want Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties to be clean; don’t you? Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, Rotary clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and Kiwanis clubs. (Sorry, those entities established for the sole purpose of pursuing legislative or regulatory changes are not eligible.) Two-mile sections of highway are adopted for a period of two years. Groups sign a contract with the Transportation Cabinet, which recognizes the need and desirability of a clean environment, and permits the group to contribute toward that effort. Volunteer groups may renew the contract at the end of the two years. Adopt-A-Highway Coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to your group, work with group members in locating an available highway, and notify you of news and upcoming events. Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep the area reasonably litter free. The Cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts throughout the year. Groups are encouraged to complete and return an Adopt-A-Highway survey, (available in Adobe Acrobat), after each cleanup. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup. Trash bags, safety vests and warning signs can be obtained at each State Maintenance Facility, and litter removal is provided by state highway crews if requested. Your Adopt-A-Highway coordinator will help you get in touch with your county’s maintenance crew foreman. Sounds great. How do I join? Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-A-Highway Program can contact the District Coordinator in their area or one of the state Adopt-A-Highway Coordinators at the address below: District Six Wayne Buckner or Larry Roberts loroberts@mail.kytc.state.ky.us 421-423 Buttermilk Pk ‘ I-75 P.O. Box 17130 Covington, KY 41017 (859) 341-2700

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Adopt-A-Highway Program 10th Floor State Office Building Frankfort, KY. 40622 (502) 564-4890 e-mail: Robin Jenkins at rchaney@mail.kytc.state.ky.us

More information on local programs can be obtained by contacting the counties, NKSWMA at 859-283-1885, or trashnate@nkadd.org.