Picking up litter

The Michigan Department of Transportation is asking motorists to use caution the next two weekends, as almost 3,200 volunteer groups across the state will be picking up litter through the agency’s Adopt-A-Highway program.

Volunteers the next two Saturdays will be scattered along more than 7,200 miles of state highways and roadways during the first of three pickups this year.

The volunteer effort started in 1990 and has been praised by MDOT officials for improving the scenery along highways and state roads.

In 2011, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collected more than 75,000 bags of trash and saved taxpayers $1.5 million in cleanup costs.

Sections of highway are still available for adoption. Interested groups should check MDOT’s Web page for more information. The next two pickups are July 14 to 22 and Sept. 22 to 30.