Groups of volunteers will be doing spring cleaning along Michigan’s highways in coming days, picking up the trash and other discarded items thoughtlessly left behind by others and now no longer covered up by snow.

Beginning Saturday, motorists should be on the lookout as Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out across far northern Michigan for the first of three scheduled collections in 2026. The pickup period continues through Sunday, May 17.

Taking part will be the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford. The rest of the state had its first pickup in April.

The other statewide sessions scheduled this year are July 11-19 and Sept. 19-27.

Adopt-A-Highway is a Michigan Department of Transportation program designed to help keep the state’s roadsides and ditches clean and attractive. Participants adopt both sides of a section of state highway to tend for at least a two-year period. A minimum 2-mile stretch of roadway is recommended.

When working in a highway right of way, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags, and arranges to haul away the trash.

All types of state highways may be adopted, including two-lane roads, limited access highways, boulevards and business routes.

The program began in Michigan in 1990 and has grown to involve more than 2,900 groups cleaning more than 6,000 miles of highway.

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

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

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. 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.