BALTIMORE, MD—As the spring season begins, the MDOT State Highway Administration is preparing for its annual effort aimed at cleaning up litter and debris from state highways.

The initiative, dubbed ‘Operation Clean Sweep,’ will get underway on March 18 and will involve increased mowing and litter pickup along state roads and highways.

State transportation officials are urging motorists to slow down, pay attention, and move over when passing crews working in the back of trucks.

According to MDOT, Operation Clean Sweep is aimed at improving the safety and health of Maryland communities by reducing litter and debris, which can impact highway drainage systems, cause flooding, and create other hazards.

The initiative is also an effort to reduce the amount of litter and debris thrown onto state roads and highways, which costs the state millions of dollars every year to remove.

In the past five years, the State Highway Administration has spent more than $42 million on litter and debris removal efforts, officials said. Last fiscal year, crews collected more than 364,077 bags of trash along state roads, which cost the state an estimated $15 million.

The State Highway Administration launched its first Operation Clean Sweep effort in February 2023. As operations begin for 2024, the agency is reaching out to local jurisdictions to coordinate cleanup efforts. Citizens can help by reporting issues of litter and high grass on state roads by clicking here or by calling 410-545-0300.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

PHOTO: SHA crews are using new litter removal equipment like this “Litter Rake” along MD 702 in Baltimore County (via MDOT)