Adopt-A-Street program removes 16 tons of trash in 2011

COEUR d'ALENE - In a recent report from the Kootenai County Solid Waste Department, city officials learned that for the calendar year 2011, the city of Coeur d'Alene's Adopt-a-Street program delivered from its roadways 16.02 tons of trash to the County Transfer Station.

This impressive figure illustrates the effectiveness of the program as well as the dedication of the 34 volunteer groups that make such an accomplishment possible.

Authorized by the City Council in June 2000, the Adopt-a-Street Program was originally intended primarily for the city's more rural streets (e.g., Atlas, Kathleen, North 15th, etc.).

The program is a partnership between the city and the citizen who adopts the street. The "adopting" individual, family, or group picks up the trash, while the city provides signage, vests, and orange litter bags. The city also collects the bags the next working day after they have been filled.

For each Adopt-a-Street group, the city asks that a leader is chosen. That person is responsible for each participant's "Hold Harmless" agreement. In addition, the leader schedules and announces the litter pick-up outings, makes sure that a minimum number of participants are available to complete the task, and also receives and stores the group's safety vests and the trash bags provided by the street maintenance department. Once litter pick-up outings are completed, the leader calls the department to collect the filled, trash bags.

Adopt-a-Street volunteers are encouraged to patrol their areas a minimum of two times per year. Shared areas are coordinated by leaders to increase the frequency of garbage pick-up to meet the needs of their adopted street.

Special thanks go to all Adopt-a-Street volunteers, past and present, for their service. For more information about the Adopt-a-Street Program, please call 769-2235.