The Township of Uxbridge's Adopt-A-Road Program allows volunteers to help maintain and clean roadways in the Township. This is a great way for you or your organization to give back to your community. Through the program, you will adopt a section of road and keep it clean.

Join the program

Please contact us by email and we will work with you to find a section of road. You will need to complete the Adopt-A-Road Program Agreement before you begin.

We will provide safety vests, trash bags, safety information and training, flags and traffic cones to help you. Once you've removed all trash, we will pick up the garbage bags from the side of the road. We will also put up a sign on the section of road to indicate that your group cleans the road.

Your responsibilities

As a volunteer in this program, you will:

  • Appoint or select an authorized group representative to act on behalf of the group
  • Ensure that the authorized representative attends a safety meeting provided by the Township and in turn provides safety training to the group
  • Pick up litter, a minimum of three times per year between April and November to maintain a clean roadway
  • Collect litter only from the adopted section of roadway
  • Notify the Township prior to each clean up
  • Use all appropriate safety equipment provided by the Township and follow the safety rules contained in the agreement
  • Ensure all volunteers review the rules before each clean-up session
  • Tie up the garbage bags and leave along the edge of the road section

Safety guidelines

It is important that you use caution when working along the roadway. Please review these rules prior to each clean-up session.

Safety requirements and tips

As a volunteer, you must:

  • Receive annual safety training before the first pick-up of the year and review the safety rules prior to each clean-up
  • Be at least 12 years old
  • Provide at least one adult (19 years or older) supervisor for every five workers
  • Always wear a Township approved safety vest
  • Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the worksite
  • Park parallel to the road and as far off the road as possible
  • Park vehicles on the same side of the road as the volunteers
  • Pick up little walking against traffic (make sure to always face on-coming traffic)
  • Pick up litter during daylight hours only
  • Always identify the item before picking it up
  • Flag hazardous and unidentifiable items (for example, car batteries, dead animals) for pick-up by township staff
  • Stay clear of any water hazards
  • Discontinue work in inclement weather

For your own safety, follow these safety tips:

  • Stay mentally alert at all times
  • Wear protective footwear and gloves
  • Wear light-coloured clothing and covers your arms and legs
  • Wear a baseball cap or a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen
  • Drink lots of fluids while you work, especially on hot, humid days
  • Be aware of any special needs of fellow volunteers
  • Avoid over exertion
  • Avoid hazardous plants and stinging insects
  • Keep an adequate supply of flags and trash bags on hand

Actions to avoid

While volunteering with Adopt-a-Road, you must not:

  • Walk or pick up litter on the pavement, shoulder or in the median
  • Work on bridges, steep grounds or in tunnels
  • Touch or pick-up hazardous items or anything you can't identify
  • Wear clothing or display material that might distract motorists
  • Use or possess illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages before or during clean-up
  • Step or jump on trash bags

Emergency preparedness

In the case of an emergency, make sure that you:

  • Have a first-aid kit immediately available
  • Pre-select the most direct route to the nearest medical emergency facility
  • Always have transportation immediately available
  • Have a cell phone on site

Contact Us