Help clean up Aiken roadways

Help keep Aiken County's roadways clean by adopting a highway.

The local Adopt-A-Highway coordinator is asking that people volunteer their time one Saturday in May, August and November to collect trash on a stretch of road in Aiken County.

"We ask they do a 2-mile stretch," coordinator Sandra Langley said. "There is no cost associated with this."

South Carolina Department of Transportation provides trash bags, vests, gloves, rakes and safety cones. Aiken County will collect the trash bags once the pickup is done.

Any group interested in participating is encouraged to sign up, with the understanding it is making a two-year commitment. A sign will be erected on the stretch of road the group has adopted. However, there is a one-time pickup program that allows volunteers to participate in a cleanup for just one day.

"We are looking for people who care about their community," Langley said.

Last year, 1,277 Adopt-A-Highway volunteers picked up trash along 297 miles of Aiken County roads. In the end, there were 1,995 bags of trash, which equaled 29,932 pounds.

The Aiken Running Club was recently honored as Aiken County's Adopt-A-Highway group of the year. Other recipients have included Beech Island Garden Club, North Augusta High School NJROTC and St. Paul's United Methodist Church.

According to SCDOT's website, the Adopt-A-Highway began in 1988 and has been one of the most successful programs in combatting litter along the state's highways.

Contact Sandra Langley at 642-1533 or slangley@aikencountysc.gov.