The Municipality of Chatham-Kent's Adopt-a-Highway Program has been established as a public service program for volunteers to pick up litter along municipal rights-of-way. It is a way for environmentally conscious citizens, community and civic organizations, private business, and industry to contribute to a cleaner and more beautiful municipal road system. Usually, groups agree to pick up litter at least three times a year along its adopted section of highway, beginning April 1 and ending December 31 of each year, ensuring that litter pick-ups do not occur on the following dates: holiday weekends or winter months from November to March of each year. However, we do have organizations and groups that clean up particular stretches of roads only once a year, and this is very much appreciated, as well.
Forms to be Filled Out (see right hand column)
Supplied by the Municipality
Chatham-Kent (Public Works dept.) will supply the following items for the organization or group to assist in the clean-up efforts:
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Orange safety vests (that would have to be returned upon completion of the clean up job)
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trash bags
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Work gloves
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"Safety Guidelines for Volunteers" pamphlet and training
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"Road work" signs (that would have to be returned upon completion of the clean up job)
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flags (that would have to be returned upon completion of the clean up job)
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traffic cones (that would have to be returned upon completion of the clean up job).
Since road safety is of primary importance in all municipal decisions related to the Adopt-a-Highway Program, Chatham-Kent will also provide some safety training for volunteers. Youths under the age of 18 who are involved in the program, must have signed permission from a parent or a guardian.
After the Clean-Up
After the clean up efforts are finished, the organization or group that performed the clean-up may leave the garbage bags along the side of the road (off the right-of-way), where the Public Works dept. will pick them up on the first working day following the clean-up efforts.
Recognition of the Efforts of Groups
When an organization or group has cleaned a portion of road for two years running, then Chatham-Kent may decide to acknowledge their efforts by erecting a sign that details the group's name and the stretch of road that they are responsible for cleaning.
Clean up of Highway # 40
If a public organization or group wishes to clean up a portion of Highway # 40, they should contact the Ontario Ministry of Transportation office at 519.354.1400 for more information.