Adopt A Road

Co. Cavan

Adopt A Road

The Adopt-A-Road scheme facilitates local businesses and local County Councils to maintain litter levels on the verges of roads. In return the local businesses benefit from advertising.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Adopt A Road
(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

Adopt A Road

The Adopt-A-Road scheme facilitates local businesses and local County Councils to maintain litter levels on the verges of roads. In return the local businesses benefit from advertising.

(c) Comhar Sustainable Development Council

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With approximately 3000 kms of road in County Cavan, the regular maintenance of road verges through normal means would be financially impossible. The litter wardens carry out some proactive work such as awareness raising in schools, but in the main provide a reactionary, enforcement role. A gap existed which could not be bridged through the normal methods and   budgets. In addition, it was felt that by engaging with the business sector, awareness could be raised   on issues such as litter and waste throughout the county.

The ‘Adopt a Road’ scheme was first launched in April 2004. The Adopt a Road scheme is widely used across the USA in various forms and the idea originated from studying the websites of various local authorities there. However the schemes in the USA vary significantly. The task for Cavan County Council was to adapt the scheme to suit the needs of County Cavan.

This programme benefits the company through the advertising it gains from the signage and by showing its commitment to the environment to potential customers. The Council benefits from regularly maintained road verges at virtually no expense.

A designated stretch of road is allocated to a business who wishes to adopt it. The County Council erects a permanent sign along the stretch of carriageway, advertising the particular company that has adopted the length of road. The company then agrees with the council a litter maintenance programme. This typically involves the litter picking of the road verges along this stretch of road at the agreed number of times per year (e.g 4 times per year-every 3 months). Once the work is complete, the Council will arrange for the collection of the bags of litter.

The project is managed by Cavan County Councils waste management section. Initially the section targeted several potential businesses with a view to getting them to ‘buy into’ the concept and help launch the scheme. The idea was instantly adopted by 3 very high profile companies. This launch was promoted through the local media. The scheme is now promoted by the litter wardens and waste management staff who encounter businesses on a daily basis. The ‘Adopt a Road’ signage - now evident in many areas of Cavan, advertises itself. The scheme has also been adopted by several community groups and individuals who expressed an interest in adopting a road or an estate that they live in or live near. The litter management officer ensures that all scheme participants carry out their respective litter picking exercises on time and in accordance with the scheme rules.

The scheme has been very successful and has met its three original key aims. It provides a method of regularly maintaining roadside verges at no additional cost to the local authority, it engages and involves the business sector and it raises awareness of litter and waste issues within the business and public sector.