Adopt-A-Road Program

• Work gloves
• Light-colored fabric
• Long pants
• Long sleeve shirts
• Appropriate shoes (preferably leather shoes with durable soles and support)
• County-provided OSHA-approved safety vest worn at all times, or rain gear. If rain gear is needed, the safety vest is required to be worn outside of the rain gear.

• For your safety, only pick up litter from one side of the road at a time.
• Never work in the road.  Only work in the area between the edge of the paved road and the outer right-of-way boundary.
• Only cross a road at right angles and as quickly as possible when it's safe to do so. Never cross at a curve, on top of a hill or at any location where sight distance is short or impaired.
• Face oncoming traffic where the road right-of-way is narrow.
• Do not throw litter, litter bags, stones or any objects across the road.
• Place filled litter bags or bulky items at a safe distance off the asphalt or traveled portion of the road, either along the shoulder or in the ditch. Never place objects on the traveled portion of the road, or in bike lanes.

• Always drive safely and obey all road traffic signs.
• Make sure all doors are closed before you move your vehicle.
• Turn around in safe places with adequate sight distance in all directions.
• Do not ride on any external portion of the vehicle, i.e. fender, hood, running boards, etc..
• Safe driving rules:
  • Always be courteous
  • Be extremely careful when backing up a vehicle.
    • Where possible, park so that backing up is not necessary.
    • Get out and check to see if backing up is safe, and the way is clear. Use a guide if necessary.
    • Back up slowly.
    • Never back up for long distances or around corners.
    • Consider all possible alternatives before backing up your vehicle.
• Safe parking rules:
  • Park in a safe place off the traveled portion of the road.
  • Obey all designated parking signs.
  • Do not obstruct any official road sign.
  • Turn off engine and put parking brake on when not driving.

• Place the provided freestanding sign on the shoulder of the road behind your work group, at the beginning of each work area, to identify the litter patrol activities ahead.
• Keep signs within one mile of the group participants.

The Metro South Transfer Station handles the disposal of debris from the Adopt-A-Road Program.  They recently brought to our attention a concern that unknown substances (hazardous materials) placed in the Adopt-A-Road trash bags might be getting disposed with general trash at the transfer station. 

The Clackamas County Adopt-A-Road Program would appreciate your help in keeping unknown substances out of the trash bags.  These known or unknown substances could include:  paint, paint thinners, oils, solvents or unmarked containers such as milk jugs that are filled with unknown substances or liquids.

If you see items that you suspect may contain hazardous or toxic substances, leave them alone and avoid the area. Examples include pesticide containers, barrels, drums, powders or fertilizers and fertilizer containers.  Report these items and their location to the county. Mark the location of these substances with a bag and notify Ron Buck at ronbuck@clackamas.us or 503-650-3347 of their location. Clackamas County Adopt-A-Road handlers will pick up these substances separately when they are collecting the bags of trash and properly dispose of this material at the hazardous materials intake facility at the transfer station.

• Take precautionary measures to prevent exposure of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis. Sources of probable germs include soiled disposable baby diapers, sanitary napkins, spoiled food, food residue in fast-food containers, dead animals, and human or animal waste.
• Preventive measures include:
  • Wash hands with soap and water before eating or smoking.
  • Avoid contact with germs in your eyes, and open cuts, scratches, sores and rashes.
  • Open cuts or scratches shall be cleaned, medicated and bandaged immediately.
• DO NOT touch or handle any hypodermic needles. Needles can be a source of Hepatitis and AIDS.  Report all findings and their location to the county.

• Do not put more than 30 pounds of litter in a litter bag, regardless of the size of the bag (32 to 55 gallons).
• Do not place sharp or protruding objects in a litter bag that may tear the bag or that could cause personal injury when the bags are picked up for disposal.  Collect and place such items next to the filled litter bags or along the road shoulder where they won't be hit by traffic.

• All litter pick-up activities must take place during daylight hours.
• The use of any controlled substances (drugs, alcohol) by volunteers is strictly prohibited.
• The throwing of rocks or any other items is strictly prohibited.
• Avoid poison oak, poison ivy and other noxious weeds.
• Do not use headsets, earphones or anything else that could affect your hearing.
• No one under the age of 12 may be on site. Adult supervision is required for participants between the ages of 12 and 18.