Alberta highway cleanup programs

Overview

We all have a role in keeping our highways clean.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors operates 2 cleanup programs for non-profit organizations:

• adopt-a-highway
• annual highway cleanup

Participating organizations provide the volunteers and resources. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors provides all necessary materials, including:

• safety manuals
• safety vests
• garbage bags
• signs
• gloves

Filled garbage bags are placed along the outer edge of highway shoulders, and are picked up by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors highway maintenance contractors.

Adopt-a-highway

You can adopt a 3 to 5 km section of highway by volunteering to pick up litter along the route at least once every year. You can sign up as a:

• individual
• group
• company

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors recommends that 3 people pick up litter per km.

Adoption agreements are for a minimum of 3 years with a renewal option.

To thank you for your volunteer work to keep our highways clean, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors will provide and install a “Caring for Alberta’s Highways” sign next to your adopted highway section. The sign includes a tab showing your name, or that of your group or company.

Annual highway cleanup

The highway cleanup program is held on the first or second Saturday in May every year, weather permitting.

All non-profit groups or clubs are encouraged to participate as a fundraising opportunity.

Organizations must contact Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors in advance to request the part of the highway they want to clean. The section they clean and its length is determined:

• by who requested it first (with priority given to returning groups)
• number of participants (1 km for 2 participants)

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors pays participating non-profit groups and clubs $100 per km cleaned.

Training resources

Participating organizations use several resources to train participating volunteers and communicate back to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors after cleanup is complete:

• download highway cleanup training materials and forms

Safety requirements

Participants must be at least 9 years of age, with at least 1 adult supervisor for every:

• 2 child participants under 14 years old
• 5 child participants between 14 and 18 years old

For the safety of participants:

• only the outer ditches are cleaned on divided highways
• medians on divided highways should not be cleaned
• all participants must take safety training

Contact

To sign up for a highway cleanup program:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

For more information, contact the Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors District Office in your community. Check the Alberta Transportation Region and District Offices map (PDF, 423 KB) to find the nearest office.

Athabasca District Office

Phone: 780-675-2624

Address:
Main Floor, Jewell Building
3603 53 Street
Athabasca, Alberta  T9S 1A9
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Calgary District Office

Phone: 403-297-6311

Address:
2nd Floor, Willowglen Business Park
803 Manning Road NE
Calgary, Alberta  T2E 7M8
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Edson District Office

Phone: 780-723-8250

Address:
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
111 54 Street
Edson, Alberta  T7E 1T2
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Fort McMurray District Office

Phone: 780-743-7376

Address:
6th Floor, West Tower
9915 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 2K4
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Grande Prairie District Office

Phone: 780-538-5310

Address:
1st Floor, Provincial Building
10320 99 Street
Grande Prairie, Alberta  T8V 6J4
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Hanna District Office

Phone: 403-854-5550

Address:
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
401 Centre Street
Hanna, Alberta T0J 1P0
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Lethbridge District Office

Phone: 403-381-5426

Address:
3rd Floor, Administration Building
909 3 Avenue North
Lethbridge, Alberta  T1H 0H5
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Peace River District Office

Phone: 780-624-6280

Address:
3rd Floor, Provincial Building
Bag 900, Box 29
9621 96 Avenue
Peace River, Alberta  T8S 1T4
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Red Deer District Office

Phone: 403-340-5166

Address:
4th Floor, Provincial Building
4920 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6K8
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Stony Plain District Office

Phone: 780-963-5711

Address:
4711 44 Avenue
Stony Plain, Alberta  T7Z 1N4
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Vermilion District Office

Phone: 780-853-8178

Address:
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
PO Box 28
4701 52 Street
Vermilion, Alberta  T9X 1J9
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