Adopt-a-Highway volunteers make big dent in litter

To the editor:

As part of Missouri's anti-litter campaign, No More Trash, the Missouri Department of Transportation's Southeast District asked area Adopt-a-Highway groups to participate in our month-long litter pickup campaign during May. The groups overwhelmingly responded. Forty-six volunteer groups spent over 500 hours picking up eight tons of trash.

This effort saved Missouri taxpayers about $1.5 million. MoDOT spends about $5 million annually on roadside litter cleanup. That money could be used to resurface more than 200 miles of roads or replace as many as eight bridges.

I can't stress enough the importance of Adopt-a-Highway groups, and I cannot praise Southeast Missouri volunteers enough for the great job they did. Cape Girardeau County participants included Zion Methodist Men's Club, Gordonville; Alpha Phi Omega and Notre Dame Regional High School Science Club, Cape Girardeau; and Boy Scout Troop 311 and Jackson Rotary Club Boy Scout Troop 11, Jackson.

How can all Missourians help? Practice litter prevention in your home, your workplace and your car every day. I encourage anyone interested in finding out more about the Adopt-a-Highway program to contact MoDOT at 1-888-275-6636.

SCOTT MEYER

District Engineer

Missouri Department of Transportation

Sikeston, Mo.