The Texas Department of Transportation started the first Adopt-A-Highway Program in 1985. Ohioans traveling through Texas saw the blue and white signs and the litter free roads. They came back and wrote some letters to the Governor about starting an Adopt-A-Highway Program here. In the fall of 1989, three districts tried out a pilot program. As more people found out about the program, interest spread. The following spring, Adopt-A-Highway became official and was implemented statewide.

Volunteer groups adopt a two mile section or an interchange along a State Route, United States Route or Interstate. Groups who sign up with the program adopt for two years. We ask that they pick up a minimum of four times each year. Participants in Adopt-A-Highway should be volunteers and not paid to pick up litter. Groups can partner with others in adopting, but may not pay another group to pick up litter. The Department of Transportation will provide safety training, trash bags, disposable safety vests and two signs to be used at the beginning of the two mile section. The only cost to each group is their time.

Ohio has over 1,400 groups, with at least one group in each county. In addition to Adopt-A-Highway volunteers, prison inmates and Department of Transportation employees also pick up litter along Ohio's highways.