Who’s eligible?
Any group or individual may apply for participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program.

Is there a fee involved?
There is no fee required to participate in the program—only your time, effort, and concern for the environment! TDOT provides volunteers with all necessary supplies and safety materials. Filled trash bags are removed from the roadsides by TDOT crews.

Are there other benefits to participating in the program?
Besides the sense of pride your group will have by knowing you are enhancing the appearance of your community, TDOT thanks active groups through a variety of recognition programs, such as the President’s Volunteer Service Award program. Volunteer groups are also permitted to separately bag recyclable items and turn in to redemption centers for fundraising cash.

In addition, your group will have its name posted on a recognition panel installed below the official Adopt-A-Highway sign. TDOT recognition panels identify our volunteers and recognize the contributions they make to their communities.

Are there age restrictions?
Participants must be at least twelve (12) years old. Volunteers 12 – 17 years old must have parental permission to participate in litter pickups. TDOT requires adult supervision at a ratio of (1) adult for every five (5) youths under age 18.

How frequently are groups required to conduct litter pickups?
Groups are asked to make a commitment to adopt approximately two (2) miles of roadway for at least one (1) year and conduct a total of four (4) litter pickups on their adopted stretch of roadway. One pickup per quarter/season is recommended, although groups may conduct pickups more frequently.

How do I find a roadway available for adoption?
Most state-owned roadways are eligible for adoption, excluding the major interstate system.

Adoptable roadways may be state-owned federal-aid primary or secondary roads, identifiable by State Highway Markers which are either:

1. Signs with square black borders containing square white backgrounds with black numerals, or
2. Signs with triangular black backgrounds enclosing triangular white foregrounds with black numerals.

When applying to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program, please provide the state route number of the roadway you are interested in adopting. To further help TDOT identify the exact location you wish to adopt, you will be asked to include names of intersecting roads, nearest exits, or landmarks.