Thousands of young volunteers from hundreds of community organizations across the province are taking part in this weekend's annual Alberta Transportation Highway Cleanup.

Many of those volunteers and groups are from the local areal, according to Alberta Transportation spokesperson Wayne Wood who says the community organizations use the event as a fundraiser.  "Volunteer organizations such as 4-H clubs, scouts, girl guides, and schools take part in this and it's been an annual tradition for many, many years.  It's a fundraising activity for them.  They can earn some money, between $55 and $100 for every kilometre cleaned."

The bigger money goes to groups cleaning highways closer to urban centres as they tend to accumulate the most trash.

Wood says the cleanup is a big help to keep Alberta looking pristine.  Last year more than 17,000 volunteers took part.  

"Last year, for example, more than 53,000 bags of garbage were picked up from the 13,000 kilometres of highways cleaned.  They do a lot of work for us and make things look a lot better for spring and summer."

The Alberta government paid 709 volunteer organizations $1.1 million in 2017.

The cleanup is scheduled from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm and Wood says if everyone works together it will remain a safe event.

"Volunteers will have the bright orange safety vests on and they'll be collecting trash along the sides of the roadways.  There will be signage in the area and what we're asking motorists to do is just be aware of the fact that they're out there and to slow down when they see them just to make sure everybody's safe."

Some of the local groups participating in this year cleanup include the Volunteer Airdrie Society, the Central Beiseker 4-H Beef and Multi Club, the Airdrie 1st Ward Young Women's Group, the Golden Rod 4-H Multi Club and Airdrie Adventure Scouts. 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com