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Adopt A Highway

About

The Adopt-A-Highway Program is co-sponsored by the Division of Highways and the Department of Environmental Protection. It was established in the late 1980s under the DNR (now a REAP Program) to improve the quality of our environment by encouraging public involvement in the elimination of highway litter. Its objective is to save taxpayers money by increasing public awareness and to serve as an educational tool by focusing on the consequences which result when littering is allowed to continue unchecked. The program offers volunteers the opportunity to take charge of their environment by making a positive effort to create a cleaner, more aesthetic place in which to live.

Contact Us

REAP: Adopt A Highway
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 926-0499
Toll Free: (800) 322-5530
Email: DEP.AAH@wv.gov

Questions?

Call (800) 322-5530 if you have questions concerning the AAH program or this application.

Get Started

Submit Your Application

Online Application

If you are already registered with us and would only like to make a new adoption or if your organization is new and would like to adopt more than one section of roadway, please call (800) 322-5530 or email us at DEP.AAH@wv.gov to do so.

Adopt-A-Highway Online Application
Using the AAH Online Application, you can perform the following activities:
- View Safety Videos
- Submit an online application to Adopt a Highway or Spot
- Renew an existing Adopt a Highway/Adopt a Spot Contract
- Submit Cleanup Reports
Note: Please do not use Internet Explorer to submit your Adopt-A-Highway application. Internet Explorer may cause issues with the form and its submittal. Use Edge, Firefox, or Chrome to ensure a successful submission.
Map Your Road Application
Use this utility to map the road for your Adopt-a-Highway application.

Printable Forms

Submit completed forms to:

Adopt A Highway
WVDEP - REAP
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304

Completed forms may also be emailed to DEP.AAH@wv.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

Who may Adopt-A-Highway?
Individuals, families, churches, businesses, schools, civic organizations, government agencies, fraternities, and communities.

What roads may be adopted?
Almost any state-maintained road: dirt roads, back roads, main routes. Private roads and interstate highways may NOT be adopted. Roads deemed unsafe will NOT be approved for adoption.

What does it cost?
The state disposes of bagged trash and furnishes garbage bags, signs, work gloves, and safety vests. Volunteers provide time and energy.

Are adopted highways identified?
Volunteer group names are posted on signs at each end of the adopted road about 60 days after the first cleanup is reported.

Program Rules

Adopt-A-Highway

Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to participate in this program.
Adopting groups must clean adopted roads with their own membership and may not subcontract the work.
Adopted roads must be two continuous miles long. Locations NOT adoptable are: two separate one-mile sections, one mile on each side of a highway, T-shaped or L-shaped sections.
Adoptions are for two years and are renewable.
Litter must be picked up at least two (2) times a year at least 30 days apart. For each cleanup, a report must be submitted (cleanup reporting forms are provided upon approval of Adoption) to DEP.AAH@wv.gov or by mail to:

Adopt A Highway
WVDEP - REAP
601 57th St. SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Adopters must notify the Division of Highways county garage three days prior to each cleanup.
All volunteers are required to watch the Adopt-A-Highway Safety Videos prior to picking up litter.
Safety vests furnished by the state must be worn by all volunteers during cleanups.
“Litter Cleanup Ahead” signs must be posted during cleanups.
Volunteers are encouraged to recycle items found on roadsides.

Adopt-A-Spot Program

Adopt-A-Spot is an extension of the Adopt-A-Highway Program and allows volunteers to adopt smaller sections of state roadside rights-of-way for the purpose of keeping them litter free. One recognition sign bearing the adopters name will be posted on site after the first litter cleanup.

All Adopt-A-Highway rules apply to Adopt-a-Spot, with the following exceptions:

The adopted “Spot” may be no longer than ¼ mile in length.
There is no age limit. However, the state may deny unsafe areas based on the age of the volunteers.

Recognitions

About

Adopt A Highway groups from around West Virginia were recognized during the annual AAH Appreciation Picnic on August 6, 2022, at Pipestem Resort State Park.

Lifetime Litter Collection Awards

Lifetime Litter Collection Awards were presented to all groups in attendance reflecting the pounds of litter they have collected since joining the AAH program.