Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990 TAG: 9006140328 SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY SOURCE: KIM ZEOLI SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Motorists soon will see signs designating streets and sections of streets scheduled for cleanup by organizations and businesses. The signs will be a bit different, however, from the ones seen along the highways.
Instead of "Adopt a Highway" signs, the city will have "Adopt a Radford Street" and "Adopt a Radford Spot" signs.
James Hurt, city engineer, said the program is in response to inquiries by citizens about environmental awareness. "I've been getting requests from people who have seen the "Adopt a Highway" signs, and they inquire about doing something similar in Radford," said Hurt.
The program, in its final planning stages, combines two ideas: the Virginia Department of Transportation's Adopt a Highway program and the Virginia Department of Waste Management's Adopt a Spot program.
"We're trying to put the two programs together so they will be successful in Radford," said Hurt.
Highway adoptions, which started in 1989, are for two-mile stretches; sponsors are required to collect the trash at least four times a year. Signs have been placed along the highways to acknowledge these organizations.
The spot-adoption program came along a short time later. Participants could adopt parks, courtyards, walkways and other areas - even private land with the property owner's written permission - for cleanup. Signs identified sponsors in that program, too.
As Radford's plan stands now, Hurt said, street adoptions will be for a minimum of a one-mile section. If a street is less than a mile long, the entire street will be assigned. Public buildings, parks and other public areas also will be available for adoption under the Adopt a Spot program.
One major difference in Radford's program is the number of times sponsors are required to collect trash. City Council voted to require cleanup at least once a month. Councilman Robert Nicholson said he believed trash collection was needed in some areas more than four times a year.
Hurt said prospective sponsors will submit an application. If approved by the public-works department, an area will be assigned to the sponsor for one year. Any group or organization may participate.
"I'm hoping we can get Radford University involved also. It may end up that groups can adopt a section of the university as well as city streets," said Hurt.
Litter pickup on city streets is a potentially hazardous undertaking, he said. To reduce the chance of accidents, Hurt has proposed that two annual meetings be held to discuss safety precautions. Each group member will be required to attend at least one of the meetings.
Median strips, considered particularly unsafe, will not be available for adoption.
Once a sponsor has been approved, Radford will provide the trash and recycling bags.
"Participants will be encouraged to recycle the items they can, such as aluminum, glass and plastics. The money made from recycling can be kept by the participants, or it may be donated to the city's beautification commission," said Hurt.
If donated, the money could be earmarked for planting trees along public streets or in parks and near public buildings.
The program is expected to reduce the amount of public funds spent for litter pickup.
Part of Hurt's proposal is that participants file a report with the public-works department one week after their collection date listing the number of people who were involved, the hours spent, the number of bags collected and the amount of materials recycled.
Identifying signs will acknowledge the participants.
by CNB