Adopt-a-Program

• Participants must review and follow current program guidelines, including those contained in the “Guide to Safe Litter Cleanup” document included in the participant package.
• Participants must sign an Authorized Township of Langley Volunteer Partial Waiver and Release of Rights prior to being accepted into the program.
• Participants must reside or have a valid business license in the Township of Langley.
• Participants must report their required number of cleanups on a monthly basis (those who fail to report can be removed from the program without notice).

• (Adopt-a-Street) Participants must clean both sides of the street section adopted (Exception—where two groups have co-adopted a street and have each agreed to do one side).
• Number of cleanups per month:
  • Street, trail and park—minimum of one cleanup per month
  • Creek—minimum of four cleanups per year
• Street adoptions must be a minimum of 0.4km in length (two blocks).
• Participants must commit to the program for a minimum of two years.
• Participants must strive to keep their adopted area free of visible litter.

• Participants can participate in one-time cleanups
• Participants may clean an area of any length
• Participants may choose to clean an area less frequently than the minimum requirements
• Participants may vary their cleanup area.

• The number of Adoptions a volunteer can have initially is limited to one.
• After 2 years if a consistent history of cleanup reports have been submitted, a business, individual, or family may apply to adopt a second area, at the Township’s discretion.
• The total number of Adoptions an individual or family can have is limited to two.
• The total number of Adoptions an organization, company, or business can have is limited to three.
• Additional adoptions may be considered for larger groups, with proof that the existing commitments have been met.
• Sharing of an adopted area may be allowed if the pre-existing volunteer agrees. A maximum of 2 groups may adopt the same area at a time. No changes will be made to the existing volunteer recognition sign(s), though additional sign(s) may be added to the same pole for the new volunteer. There is no requirement to coordinate cleanups.

Recognition signs may be installed to indicate an area has been adopted by a volunteer that has demonstrated a long-term commitment to keeping that area clean.

• Recognition signs may be issued after a dedicated commitment of a at least 6 months of regular cleanups has been shown. (For example, 6 Clean up Reports have been received by and to the satisfaction of the Adopt-a-Program coordinator). After this time, the volunteer may apply to the Adopt Coordinator for their recognition sign to be installed. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to notify the Program Coordinator upon completion of the required number of cleanups.
• Submission of minimum requirements for recognition signage does not guarantee the sign will be installed. The Township reserves the right to determine final placement of signs, as well as whether to install a sign at all. Volunteers may instead be recognized in other ways.
• Signs will remain in place for the duration of the adoption period. If a group chooses to withdraw, or is removed from the program, their sign will be removed and may be replaced with an “Up for Adoption” sign.
• If a recognition sign is vandalized, the Township will attempt to repair, replace, or relocate the sign in a timely manner. If signs continue to be vandalized, the Township may decide to remove the sign temporarily.

• In the case of an individual or family that has adopted a street, trail, park, or creek, only the individual’s legal name, or legal family name, will be displayed on the sign (e.g., The Wilson’s)
• In the case of an organization, company, or business that has adopted a street, trail, park, or creek, only the registered legal name of the organization, company, or business will be displayed on the sign. Logos and websites are not permitted on Adopt-a-Program recognition signs.
• Proof of legal name will be required prior to a sign being made and installed.
• Signs will adhere to design elements (e.g., colours, fonts, size, etc.) determined by the Adopt-a-Program, and, will be installed in compliance with the Township of Langley Sign Bylaw 2012 No. 4927, and, Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2010 No. 4758, as amended or replaced from time to time.
• Placement and location of the sign is at the full discretion of the Roads Department.

• One (1) recognition sign per adoption may be installed for adoptions of streets, trails, and parks. Adopt-a-Creek adoptions will be assessed by the Adopt-a-Program coordinator on an individual basis and signs may or may not be issued. If a sign is deemed not appropriate for the creek section adoption, another form of recognition may be issued instead.

• The Township reserves the right to modify the guidelines for the Adopt-a-Program at any time.
• The Township reserves the right to deny or cancel participation in the Adopt-a-Program at any time. Decisions regarding participation will be made by the Adopt-a-Program coordinator, acting reasonably, and will be based on consideration of the following:
  • A participant’s non-compliance with the program guidelines;
  • An excess number of applications for participation in the program;
  • Staff time and/or costs in administering the program; and/or
  • Other factors reasonably reflecting the Township’s operations needs or interests in administering the program.