The Radford Chamber of Commerce has designated the new triangle lot on W. Main St. as the location for its Adopt-a-Spot program.
The program is designed to encourage citizen participation in litter cleanup of designated areas in the community. Individuals, organizations or businesses may agree to keep a designated area, other than a highway, cleared of litter for a two-year period.
In exchange, program participants are given materials to help them with the cleanup and a sign bearing their name to be posted in the area. At the end of the two-year period, the program participants will receive a special certificate of appreciation and may renew their agreement.
Several guidelines are in place for the program.
1. The Adopt-a-Spot agreement must be approved by the City of Radford.
2. The Adopt-a-Spot coordinator should coordinate, review and approve the proposed area(s) of adoption. If there is a question of safety or health, the proposed adoption should not be approved.
3. Any local community organization, business or individual (18 years or older) will be allowed to adopt a spot, provided that the City of Radford reserves the right to deny adoption requests or requests for signs or other supportive material for any reason whatsoever.
4. All participants must sign the agreement. If there are any special requirements, write, “see attachment” on the agreement form, provide such concerns on a separate page, and sign your name on the attached page.
5. Participants will be required to adopt for a minimum of two years with four cleanups per year.
6. Group members less than 15 years of age must be supervised by an adult at least 18 years of age. There should be one adult 18 years of age or older for every six group members less than 15 years of age.
7. Participants are suggested to hold at least two meetings a year to review safety and other guidelines. No participants may be involved in a litter cleanup unless they have attended at least one such meeting a year. Coordinators should devise a means of being assured by the participants that these meetings have been held.
8. Radford will supply participants with trash bags and safety vests. The group’s representative should contact the city before a planned cleanup to arrange for pickup of materials.
9. The city staff should assist in scheduling the disposal of filled trash bags with the public works director. Contact Lisa Blevins, senior administrative assistant, at 540-731-3605, to schedule pick- up of filled trash bags.
10. Participants are urged to separate and recycle appropriate materials for their benefit.
11. One sign noting the program (Adopt-a-Spot) and the participant’s name will be provided for installation in the cleanup area. Signs will be made according to specifications and artwork supplied by the City of Radford.
12. After each cleanup, adopting groups must file an activity report detailing the number of people involved, number of pounds of litter picked up, how many pounds of recyclable materials were separated out/type of material, and hours spent. Printed forms will be provided by the City of Radford, or participants may submit a report online at www.radfordva.gov. Completed forms must be delivered/sent to the city’s Adopt-a-Spot coordinator
13. The City of Radford reserves the right to revise these terms as needed. The adopting group or individual should receive copies of these program conditions, the signed agreement, the safety tips and the activity reporting form.
