ST. PAUL — Minnesota transportation officials say volunteers pick up an estimated 26,000 tons of trash along state highways each year.

The Department of Transportation figures the volunteers save the state an estimated $6 million annually. The Adopt a Highway program is currently staffed with more than 49,000 volunteers who clean up litter from 11,000 miles of Minnesota highways.

Adopt a Highway program administrator Ernest Lloyd says that because of the volunteers, state road crews can spend more time on highway improvement and safety projects. The DOT says the Adopt a Highway program requires at least a 2-year commitment to pick up trash about two or three times a year.

Only state workers are responsible for picking up trash along the interstate.