Adopt-A-Highway

The Illinois Adopt-A-Highway program brings citizen volunteers into partnerships with IDOT to pick up trash and keep our roadsides clean. The program also educates and encourages people to stop littering. Through the cleanup efforts of more than 10,000 Adopt-A-Highway volunteers throughout Illinois, visitors and tourists have a better first impression of our state and roadways are safer because of less roadside debris.

Illinois needs your help to keep its roadsides clean. Please consider adding your group of friends, neighbors, coworkers, or club members to our list of volunteers who make a positive impact on the area where they live.

Just about anyone can take part:

To participate, each volunteer group applies for a two-mile section of highway, which they select from an interactive map within the application.  Once approved, volunteer groups agree to remove litter from the assigned section of highway at least four times each year for a two-year period and agree to complete an Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up Report after each clean-up day.  In return, IDOT will install roadside signs identifying the volunteer group as an Illinois Adopt-A-Highway participant.  IDOT provides safety vests and trash bags to Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and removes the bags from the roadside. 

There may be times when a road may appear available for adoption but, for a variety of reasons, is not available.

Reasons may include that the roadside is considered unsafe for volunteers or the state route is in an area where the municipality has its own Adopt-A-Highway program.  If you choose an unavailable location, an IDOT representative will contact you to discuss alternative options.

To apply, please complete the interactive Adopt-A-Highway Request below.  If you prefer to print a copy of the form, select the Adopt-A-Highway Permit Request (PDF).  Questions? Please email DOT.AAH@illinois.gov or call (217) 557-3224.

Download a copy of the program rules.