This release was issued under a previous government.
Motorists will see volunteers wearing safety vests and picking up garbage along roadsides across the province as they earn money for their community organizations.
The annual highway cleanup was established as a fundraiser for non-profit and community organizations and to help clean up provincial highway right-of-ways. The event is held each year on the first or second Saturday of May, depending on weather.
Last year, the Alberta government contributed $1,032,282 to 650 volunteer organizations as 16,245 volunteers helped clean up more than 11,400 kilometres of Alberta roadways.
Volunteer organizations include 4-H clubs, Scouts, Girl Guides, Rotary clubs, sports teams and various non-profit groups. Groups must register with the province as non-profit organizations to participate. Organizations can earn between $81 and $101 per kilometre cleaned, with the higher amount going to those groups cleaning highways closer to urban centres, which tend to have more trash accumulated.
Anyone over the age of nine is welcome to participate in the cleanup and more information can be received by calling 310-0000 toll-free or by visiting the Annual Highway Cleanup website.
Motorists are asked to slow down, obey signs and be cautious when passing cleanup crews. Pedestrians are discouraged from randomly walking the highways, and anyone involved in the cleanup is asked to be aware, make sure they are visible, and obey all traffic signs.
Volunteers will be wearing bright orange safety vests and will be out from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They must attend a safety training program and be under adult supervision.