West Central Reporter

State Sen. Jil Tracy is urging constituents to look out for Illinois Department of Transportation workers picking up litter.

"The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is reminding the public to be on the lookout for maintenance teams picking up litter along the roads, as part of its ongoing Think Before You Throw! campaign," Tracy wrote in a legislative summary. "DOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program resumed normal operations last year, after they were suspended due to COVID-19. Volunteers logged 766 hours while participating in 1,317 cleanup activities. Almost 1,600 bags of garbage were collected. Visit the Adopt-A-Highway page to fill out an online application and 'adopt' a two-mile section of highway in Illinois."

DOT also asked for help with litter control.

“While IDOT is committed to maintaining a positive impression of Illinois by having our maintenance teams collect litter from our roadsides, we need your help,” Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said in a news release. “If the warmer temperatures make you tempted to toss that food wrapper or pop can out your car window, please don’t. Trash is more than just an eyesore. It has real, negative impacts on both the environment and our communities.”

According to the "Think Before You Throw" news release from last year's event in 2020, IDOT spent approximately $6.1 million on litter pickup, the equivalent of resurfacing 30 miles of road or purchasing 40 new maintenance trucks that also plow snow in winter. Littering is illegal, subject to a fine of up to $1,500. If convicted of littering on a highway, the violator may, in addition to other penalties, be required to maintain litter control for 30 days over a portion of that highway as well.

In addition to maintenance teams and volunteers picking up trash, Illinois residents should be vigilant and aware of crews doing word construction too, DOT said. Illinois residents can check for road construction at the IDOT road construction map.