Statewide cleanup day set for Oct. 2

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced this week that it will host its Sixth Annual “Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware” Clean Up Day on Saturday, Oct. 2. DelDOT has designated this as a statewide cleanup day, when everyone is being invited to go out to clean Delaware’s roads, highways and community areas. Officials said it is also a perfect time for everyone to stop and consider what a litter-free Delaware would look like, and do what they can to make the state a cleaner and healthier place.

“It’s also a great day for Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and/or Adopt-A-Bike Path volunteers to do one of their annual clean ups,” they said. “Businesses, citizens, and homeowners are also being asked to ensure that trash is well contained, to pick up debris blowing around their property and to step outside to sweep a sidewalk, pick up sticks, or rake up some leaves.”

In addition, Secretary of Transportation Carolann Wicks is requesting that DelDOT maintenance forces pay special attention to cleaning Delaware’s roadsides during the week of Oct. 4-8, so motorists will see DelDOT crews out in force, too.

Those interested in participating can register on the Web site at www.deldot.gov, under Hot Topics, or by contacting the Office of Public Relations at (302) 760-2080 or 1-800-652-5600. This year, the deadline for registration has been extended to Oct. 1. No telephone registrations will be taken. There is no fee to participate.

Anyone cleaning roadways should visit the nearest DelDOT district office to obtain safety information, safety vests and trash bags during the week of Sept. 27 to Oct. 1. Following the cleanup, participants should either dispose of the trash themselves (i.e., via household trash pick-up, landfill, etc.), or place it near a highway sign for DelDOT to pick up. Call the nearest DelDOT district office to request DelDOT to remove them as soon as possible.

The rain date for the event will be Sunday, Oct. 3.