BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A new initiative is recruiting help from businesses in four cities to remove trash and beautify Louisiana’s highways through a sponsorship program.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has partnered with Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation (AHMC) for a pilot program in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Shreveport.

“Litter removal is a costly, ongoing issue in Louisiana,” said DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet. “This partnership helps ease the financial burden on taxpayers while creating a cleaner, more welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.”

DOTD said the program serves as a sustainable way to offset costs for litter removal. The agency reports that it spent $13.6 million on cleanup efforts in 2024.

The state agency said businesses in each city will sponsor one-mile highway segments, then AHMC will provide services to remove litter for a minimum of six times each year. Sponsorship levels will determine how often services take place.

Information about how businesses can participate in the program will be announced later.