It’s again time for groups of volunteers to walk along Michigan’s highways, graciously picking up the trash and other discarded items thoughtlessly left behind by others.

Participants in the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program will fan out along highways starting Saturday through July 23, for the second of three scheduled collections in 2023.

Adopt-A-Highway aims to keep the state’s highway roadsides clean and attractive, according to MDOT. Participants adopt both sides of a section of state highway and agree to pick up garbage and debris on the roadside and in the ditches for at least two years. A minimum 2-mile stretch of roadway is recommended. All types of state highways may be adopted, including two-lane roads, limited access highways, boulevards and business routes.

The popular program began in Michigan in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,900 groups cleaning more than 6,000 miles of highway. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash. Every year, volunteers regularly collect more than 60,000 bags of litter, according to MDOT.

Getting involved in Adopt-A-Highway is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members have to be at least 12 years old and each group must include at least three people.

There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

Though Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulation, motorists still are asked to be aware of these groups and give them a wide berth if possible.

Want to get involved? Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state, according to MDOT. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway. The coordinator for Dickinson, Iron, Menominee, Delta and Gogebic counties is Jeff Hagglund, 906-875-6644.

The final Adopt-A-Highway pickup for 2023 will be Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. So there’s still at least one more chance after this weekend to help in the cleanup effort.