(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Did warmer weather have you flinging open your windows and getting a jump-start on spring cleaning recently? If you’ve already started planning for that annual home reset, it’s time to start planning for how to help West Virginia’s highways get a clean start to the spring/summer travel season, too.

Registration is open for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s annual Adopt-A-Highway Spring Statewide Cleanup, which will be April 25.

No, you don’t have to tackle a stretch of highway by yourself. This is an opportunity for individuals, yes, but also families, businesses, churches, school groups, civic organizations … anyone, really, to pick up trash on most state-maintained roads.

The state’s Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan program administers the program, which lets volunteers older than 12 collect trash while the program provides garbage bags, work gloves and safety vests.

Last year, more than 1,900 volunteers from more than 250 groups got almost 80,000 pounds of garbage off nearly 600 miles of roadway, according to the state DEP. That’s a big movement to be part of — and just think how much more could get done if you and your group jump in this year.

Registration ends April 17, so you have time to think about it. Just call 800-322-5530 or email dep.aah@wv.gov to get started.

Our wild and wonderful highways are how many people experience our state at first. But those inconsiderate and irresponsible folks who toss their trash along the roads rather than disposing of them properly damage the impression we can make.

If you are interested and able, grab a few friends and figure out how you can get involved in the effort to clean it back up.