One year ago, I signed a two-year commitment with the Adopt A Highway program to keep two miles of U.S. Highway 550 South near my home clear of litter. After the snow melted this spring, I was so disheartened by the amount of trash there was on our highway. After a week of clean-up, I picked up enough trash to fill 55 large orange bags – and that is just in a two mile section! I am really shocked that people still throw trash out their windows, but there are other culprits contributing to the problem. We have so many people that drive pick-up trucks with open beds. I implore you to please secure your belongings and your garbage. When you drive down the highway your trash flies out. Also, the local garbage trucks on their way to the dump aren’t always completely enclosed. So disappointing!
If you look around, Durango is looking like one big garbage bin. There are a lot of sections of highway available to adopt. If you are interested, contact the Adopt A Highway division of CDOT at (970) 385-1453. Please try to keep our Durango clean and do your part.
Jana Goldstein
Durango
