Delaware DOT Recaps 2025 Litter Cleanup Efforts

The Delaware Department of Transportation and its partners collected 82,467 bags of trash from roadsides statewide in 2025, along with 4,977 tires, 5,069 signs, and 196 appliances, as part of the ongoing Keep DE Litter Free cleanup campaign.

[Above photo via the Delaware DOT]

The agency noted that litter removal efforts in 2025 were conducted by its maintenance and operations employees, Adopt-A-Highway and Sponsor-A-Highway efforts, the Work a Day Earn a Pay Program, and with help from the Inmate Work Program overseen by the Delaware Department of Corrections.

“I would like to thank Delaware DOT and their partners for everything they do to help keep Delaware Beautiful,” noted Governor Matt Meyer (D) in a statement. “Their efforts are much appreciated, but unfortunately, their work is never done. If we all do our part, together we can truly keep our roadways litter-free.”

“There is never a shortage of litter in the First State, which is sad, because Delaware is such a beautiful place,” added Shanté Hastings, secretary of the Delaware DOT. “Since the inception of the Keep DE Free initiative, our employees, partners, and volunteers have removed 370,059 bags of trash from our roads.”

Other state departments of transportation are also witnessing success with similar statewide litter cleanup efforts.

For example, more than 77,000 pounds of litter were removed from roadsides and waterways across Tennessee as part of the 5th Annual “No Trash November” month-long campaign in 2025; an effort spearheaded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Throughout November of last year, 2,470 volunteers participated in 205 cleanup events, the agency said in a statement – collecting 3,596 bags of litter weighing a total of 77,129 pounds.

This annual cleanup initiative also brings together Tennessee DOT’s litter prevention partners and organizations, including Keep Tennessee Beautiful affiliates, Litter Grant recipients, Adopt-A-Highway groups, youth organizations such as Girl Scouts and Scouting America, and many others.