Adopt a road

• Select an authorized group representative to act on behalf of the group / organization
• Complete Niagara Region's Adopt-a-Road Program overview, safety training and knowledge quiz before starting litter pick-up
• Sort litter to facilitate disposal procedures
• Respect the rights of private landowners by not passing on their land or interfering with their activities
• Flag closed containers, heavy objects or suspected hazardous materials for pick-up and disposal by Niagara Region staff
• Surrender items of value to the nearest police station, such as wallets, purses, cameras, etc.
• Ensure that no signs, posters or other display materials are brought to the adopted section during or between cleanups
• Place filled trash bags at the designated pick-up site(s) as pre-arranged by Niagara Region staff and the authorized group representative
• Notify Niagara Region immediately after each clean-up to have litter bags removed by staff
• Ensure that litter pick-ups don't occur on statutory holidays or from Nov. 1 to April 15
• Return all inventory to Niagara Region staff at the completion of clean-up. If not returned, the group or individual may be billed for the replacement value of the items.

• Complete annual safety training before the first pick-up of the year and review safety rules before each clean-up
• Be at least 12 years old
• Have at least one adult supervisor (19 years or older) for every five workers
• Always wear a Niagara Region approved safety vest
• Display the road work sign before starting clean-up
• Carpool to minimize the number of vehicles at the worksite
• Always exit vehicles on the side next to the ditch
• Park parallel to the road and as far off the travelled portion as possible
• Park vehicles on the same side of the roadway as the volunteers
• Pick up litter during daylight hours only
• Flag hazardous and unidentifiable items for pick-up by Niagara Region staff
• Stay clear of any maintenance of construction operations and equipment
• Stay clear of any water hazards
• Discontinue work in inclement weather
• Close the road work sign when litter pick-up is done

• Select the specific section of Niagara Region road right-of-way to be adopted
• Provide safety vests, road work signs, trash bags, safety information and training, flags and traffic cones
• Erect recognition sign(s) with the adopting group's name at an agreed upon site on the adopted road
• Approve the name, titles or words placed on Adopt-a-Road volunteer recognition signs
• Remove and dispose of filled trash bags and / or hazardous waste
• Take any actions deemed appropriate, in the sole discretion of Niagara Region, to ensure program objectives are met within the adopted section of the Niagara Region road right-of-way

Purpose

The Regional Municipality of Niagara ("Niagara Region") has established the Niagara Region's Adopt-A-Road Program (the "Program") as a public service program for approved citizen / volunteer organizations to pick up litter along approved Regional road rights-of-way. It is a way for environmentally conscious citizens, community and civic organizations, private businesses, and industry to contribute to a cleaner and more beautiful Niagara Regional road system.

Roadway and volunteer safety is of primary importance in all Niagara Region decisions related to the Program. Only groups and individuals determined by Niagara Region to be responsible and to exhibit, in good faith, the desire and the ability to achieve Program objectives within the parameters of these Terms and Conditions will be allowed to adopt a section of Niagara Regional right-of-way.

Recognition

In recognition and consideration of support for the Program, Niagara Region will install an Adopt-A-Road sign with the organization's name or citizens' name acknowledging their efforts. All recognition signs are subject to approval of Niagara Region, including approval of the name, titles or words placed on Adopt-a-Road volunteer recognition signs.

Agreement

Volunteers wishing to participate in the Program must complete, sign and submit this Agreement to Niagara Region’s Adopt-A-Road Program Coordinator, together with signed Volunteer Acknowledgement of Risk, Waiver and Indemnity Agreements (Schedule B hereto) for each of the individual volunteers listed in the Roster of Participants above (Schedule A).

Niagara Region will assist volunteers in securing an adoptable stretch of Regional right of way. Sections are generally a minimum of two kilometres long. Safety of volunteers is of primary concern in determining sites.

Term

A minimum of three years is the standard term for an adoption agreement, subject to the sole discretion of Niagara Region. Agreements may be renewed, revised or terminated after the initial three year period. Litter pick up is required a minimum of two times per year, at pre-determined intervals, usually once in the spring and once in the fall.

Niagara Region will monitor the Program and all individual adoption agreements to determine if the Program's overall objectives are being met. Niagara Region reserves the right to cancel an adoption agreement in a given area or to terminate an adoption agreement, including this Agreement, for any reasons, including but not limited to the following:

• Inadequate performance
• Potential harm to the public image of Niagara Region or the Program
• Non-compliance with the Program Terms and Conditions
• Conduct of the adoptee group or individual or individuals involved in the adoptee group
• Revisions or termination of the Program

Businesses, informal groups of three or more, and formal organizations such as community, recreational or school groups, may adopt sections of Niagara Regional road rights-of-way.

Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. Volunteers under 18 years of age must submit a completed consent form and Volunteer Acknowledgement of Risk, Waiver and Indemnity Agreement (Schedule B hereto), signed by the volunteer and the volunteer's parent or guardian to be eligible to participate in the Program.

The adopting group must provide supervision by at least one adult (18 years of age or older) for every five persons under the age of 18 involved in an activity. Working group size is to be a minimum of three persons.

Only groups and individuals determined by Niagara Region to be responsible and to exhibit, in good faith, the desire and the ability to achieve Adopt-A-Road Program objectives within the parameters of these Terms and Conditions will be allowed to adopt a section of Niagara Region road right-of-way. Niagara Region may refuse to grant a request to adopt a section or roadway if, in its opinion and sole discretion, granting the request would jeopardize the Program, be counter-productive to the Program's purpose, create a safety hazard for the public and / or proposed participants, or be in conflict with policies, procedures, by-laws, guidelines or laws of Niagara Region, the applicable local area municipality and / or the Province of Ontario. Niagara Region reserves the right to limit the number of volunteers on an adopted section of road right-of-way.

Volunteers are not considered as officers, employees, or agents of Niagara Region. Any injuries, claims, liabilities, suits, or costs in any way arising from the volunteers' activities relating to this Application and Agreement and the Program, shall be the sole responsibility of the volunteers. Volunteers shall indemnify Niagara Region and agree to abide by the Niagara Region's guidelines and to not hold Niagara Region responsible for any injuries or damages that they may cause to any other person or parties or may themselves suffer as a result of participation in the Adopt-A-Road Program.

Volunteers are encouraged to recycle materials collected from the adopted section of right-of-way, whenever and wherever possible.

The Program and these Terms and Conditions may be modified or altered in any manner at the sole discretion of Niagara Region.

Program volunteers will have the option of renewing their agreement, subject to the approval of Niagara Region and continuation of the Program. Updated volunteer information will be required at the time of the renewal.

Niagara Region may terminate the agreement and / or remove the Adopt-a-Road signs bearing the volunteer's name if it finds that:

• The group is not meeting these Terms and Conditions (and / or as such terms may be modified)
• One or more volunteers of a group are not responsible
• The volunteers are acting contrary to the guidelines of the Program
• The adoption is proving to be counter-productive to the Program's objectives
• Undesirable outcomes such as increased litter, vandalism or theft are resulting from the adoption
• Volunteers have engaged in irresponsible conduct at the adopted section