You may see them from time-to-time along Auburn’s streets, groups of people in the orange vests with the vertical, yellow stripes, volunteering their time to pick up street-side litter and improve the city’s general appearance.
Parts of the city’s Adopt-Street Program, these volunteers are assigned a section of street or right-of-way to clean at four times a year, over at least one year.
Perhaps you want to be part of the fun, but, for whatever reason, you just can’t make that year-long commitment.
Well, now you can.
“We have updated our Adopt-A-Street program to include single event cleanups,” said Kalyn Brady, communications director for the city. “The traditional program requires a year-long commitment with at least four cleanup days, so this is a great way for the community to take part in beautifying our city, even if they aren’t able to commit to a full year.”
According the city’s website, the city provides volunteers with safety supplies such as gloves, vests, masks, bags and training and provides provides pickup and disposal of full bags at designated places along the assigned section of street.
Residents and businesses are responsible for maintaining their own property, adjacent sidewalks and street frontage. If there is a particular street that volunteers would like to adopt, they can submit an application. Requested streets are reviewed for safety, need and appropriateness for the program.
Not all streets can be approved for the program. If the street is approved, the volunteer will be required to sign an “agreement, waiver and hold harmless” form and watch a safety training video to be able to participate in the program.
Participants must be at least 15 years old, and minors between ages 15 and 17 must have parent or guardian permission and adult supervision during cleanup activities. Participants must also coordinate cleanups with the city prior to the cleanup date and complete required paperwork for each cleanup activity, including an activity report, and sign a waiver and hold harmless agreement on the date of the cleanup. Participants also agree that they will follow all laws and regulations related to COVID-19 if required by a public health order or Governor’s Proclamation.
For information about the program, to apply to adopt a street, or to submit required forms for your cleanup activity for your assigned street, contact the Adopt-a-Street Coordinator at 253-804-3010 or email adoptastreet@auburnwa.gov.
