Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2008

NEW GROUPS TO HELP MAINTAIN SAFE, ATTRACTIVE, LITTER-FREE ROADWAYS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY

MILLVILLE, NJ: The Cumberland County Improvement Authority welcomes three new groups to the number one Adopt-A-Road Program in New Jersey. The Widjeskog family, the Bridgeton High School Environmental Club, and the combined Paulaitis and McKishen families join a list of nearly 300 other organizations, groups, and individuals who have formally agreed to keep the roadways of Cumberland County safe, attractive, and litter-free.

“We would like to welcome the Widjeskog family, the Paulaitis and McKishen families, and the Bridgeton High School Environmental Club to the Adopt-A-Road Program. Without the efforts of volunteer groups like these, the maintenance of Cumberland County’s 540 miles of roadways would be almost impossible for county officials to keep up with,” said Improvement Authority Executive Director Steven R. Wymbs.

Organizations who make the commitment to the Cumberland County Improvement Authority and the Cumberland County Clean Communities Program agree to pick up their site at least four times a year. While at a cleanup site, safety is a top priority. Safety measures include wearing proper safety equipment, educating group members on roadside safety, and limiting participation to those over the age of 16. Additionally, groups must adhere to recycling standards established by the Improvement Authority when removing the litter from the roadways.

“We want to insure that each person who chooses to participate in the Adopt-A-Road Program does not put themselves or others in harm’s way,” said Improvement Authority Recycling Coordinator Dennis DeMatte, Jr. “When a new group joins the program we provide them with the equipment necessary for a safe cleanup, including safety vests, signs, trash bags, and gloves. We also work hard to make sure that they understand what should be recycled and what should be thrown out as trash. We ask each group to notify us when they plan to do a cleanup so that we may go to the location and collect the day’s trash and recyclables.”
As for the future of the Adopt-A-Road Program, DeMatte says it looks strong. “People are more cognizant of how their actions influence the environment around them. They are taking more pride in the areas in which they live and are more concerned with how to undo the harmful influences of the past. Plus, high school students seem to be taking a greater interest in the Adopt-A-Road Program and ways to be involved.”

According to Improvement Authority Program Coordinator Rita Danna, the recent renewal of Adopt-A-Road participation was a great success, with well over 60% of current participants agreeing to continue maintaining their stretch of roadway. Danna also states that the program is growing in popularity. “I receive about two calls a week from people who are genuinely interested in participating in the Adopt-A-Road Program. Reasons for adopting a road vary, but oftentimes the group or individual has a special connection with the roadway they wish to adopt.”

“The Adopt-A-Road Program has helped raise the public’s awareness of the need to maintain Cumberland County’s natural beauty. The commitment of our volunteer groups, organizations, and individuals has made a very visible impact on the county’s roadways. We would like to extend a big thank you to these environmental stewards who proudly keep Cumberland County’s roadways litter-free and safe for others,” Danna concluded.

Since the Adopt-A-Road Program’s introduction in Cumberland County in 1992, over 330 miles of Cumberland County’s 540 miles of roadway have been adopted. These efforts, in combination with the Improvement Authority’s Public Lands Cleanup, Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Days, and the Municipal Recycling Collection Program, keeps Cumberland County a clean and beautiful community. For more information about Cumberland County’s Adopt-A-Road Program or any of the other programs the Improvement Authority offers, please visit www.ccia-net.com or call 856-825-3700.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Rita Danna at 856-825-3700.