Students adopt a highway

Vocational students at Warren County have committed themselves to helping keep Warren County clean as one of their service projects this year. Business, nursing, and agriculture students recently adopted a one mile stretch of highway in front of the the school and have pledged to keep it litter free.

The Adopt-a-Highway program began in Texas in 1985 as a way to help control litter on public roads. The program has now spread to many other states and even to some other countries.

Highway litter poses several problems. Litter can blow into the road and create dangerous driving conditions for motorists. Litter can also pose a threat to wildlife by exposing them to small plastic items that can be ingested and cause a health hazard. Litter can pose an environmental hazard as toxic chemicals can leak into soil or water as containers decompose.

Lastly, highway litter is unsightly and does not attract tourists. In many states today, tourism is big business and communities want to present their best appearance to tourists who drive on the state highways.

WCHS students want to encourage you to do your part in helping to control the litter on the roads in our community by keeping your trash inside your vehicle until you can dispose of it in a trash can.