Neighbors and pals John Allen and Cooper Thomas prepare for litter pickup along the stretch of Hwy. 12 they have adopted. The two were recently honored as one of six “Group of the Year” recipients statewide.
Litter pickup results in state award
A two year collaboration between seven year old Cooper Thomas and her friend John Allen, 63, has resulted in state wide recognition of their litter pick up efforts. On April 16, the duo was awarded “Group of the Year” honors by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Adopt-A-Highway project.
They received a plaque, a clock fashioned from a sample Idaho license plate and congratulations from board member Bruce Sweeney, who presented the award on behalf of the board and IDT.
The state has six districts, with helpers in each district who evaluate the work of the clean up volunteers. They track how much trash is gathered and how many miles covered and make recommendations at the state level for group of the year recognition.
The two are neighbors, and two years ago decided to adopt the highway section in front of their homes, between mileposts 48 and 50 near Orofino. The litter pickup is just one more way for Thomas and Allen to spend time together.
Last year Thomas and Allen picked up more than half a ton of litter (1,225 pounds) along their two mile stretch of highway. Their section includes three highway turnouts and a boat launch ramp, so the area tends to attract plenty of refuse.
They pick up trash several times a year; their efforts are part of a state wide effort to keep Idaho’s roadsides clean with the help of volunteers. More than 1,000 groups spent approximately 47,000 man hours statewide removing litter in 2007 and collected an estimated 1.4 million pounds of litter.
The volume of material collected from the shoulders of Idaho makes a tremendous difference in the appearance of Idaho’s highways, according to state AAH coordinator, Sherie Sweaney. The volunteers save the state more than a quarter-million dollars that can be applied to other projects, improving safety and driving conditions.
For more information about adopting a stretch of highway, contact Sweaney at 800.443.2878.