State Roadway Cleanup

What is the State Roadway Cleanup?

Each fall, Keep Ohio Beautiful (KOB) partners with a local KOB affiliate and an Ohio Department of Transportation District to host the State Roadway Cleanup.  This event concludes our Keep Ohio Beautiful affiliate’s statewide participation in the Great American Cleanup of Ohio.

2024 State Roadway Cleanup

Registration FORM -  individuals or group
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Saturday, October 5, 2024
I-480 in Brooklyn - Meet at 5020 Tiedeman ROAd, Brooklyn
(in the Buffalo Wild Wings Parking Lot)
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Agenda:

• Registration: 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
• Welcome and Safety Talk: 9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• State Roadway Cleanup: 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

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Why does KOB participate in the State Roadway Cleanup?

Litter is misplaced solid waste—blown by wind and traffic and carried by water. It travels until trapped by a curb, building or fence. Once litter has accumulated, it invites people to add more. Much litter comes to rest along roadways. A statewide study conducted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found that more than 11 thousand tons of litter accumulates on Ohio's roadways each year. On average, ODOT spends more than $4.5 million each year picking up nearly 400,000 bags of trash from highways and interchanges. Through the spring roadway cleanup, KOB volunteers save Ohio taxpayers over $400,000.

What happens during the State Roadway Cleanup?

• Volunteers comprised of neighborhood groups, businesses and organizations take to area roadways to pick up thousands of pounds of litter, recyclables and debris.
• Before they start, volunteers are educated how to safely handle highway debris.
• Safety is our number #1 priority, as we partner with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the local Police Department & the Ohio Highway Patrol.
• The recyclables that are collected by the volunteers are sent to a nearby recycling facility for processing. Incorporating recycling into the event is truly the perfect way to help the environment for future generations.

Resources

Ohio Department of Transportation
Adopt-A-Highway Program
Sponsor-A-Highway Program

June 6 - National Secure Your Load Day
National Secure Your Load Day
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Secure Your Load also aims to reduce litter on roads; as a nation, we spend approximately $11.5 BILLION to clean our roads and it is estimated that 20-40% of road pollution comes from unsecured loads. Today, most U.S. states have signed proclamations declaring June 6th as Secure Your Load Day.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year, about 730 people are killed and 17,000 more are injured because of objects in the road. Most of these crashes (81%) involve unsecured loads on passenger vehicles.

Follow these tips to ensure you properly secure your cargo:

• Tie cargo down with rope, netting, or straps.
• Tie large objects directly to your vehicle or trailer.
• Consider covering the entire load with a sturdy tarp or netting.
• Don’t overload your vehicle or trailer.
• Always double-check your load to make sure it’s secure.

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