Warning to Spring Adopt-A-Highway Roadside Cleanup Crews

A few years ago, the Carlton County Transportation Department made us aware of a potential danger to our Adopt-A-Highway volunteers or and others that walk a long the roadway with our families or pets. Usually, the biggest safety concern is being hit by a passing vehicle, or if you are doing a highway clean-up project, being cut or poked by a piece of glass or metal. But, this concern is much more dangerous and could leave you disfigured.

The weather is warming, the snow is gone and that means many organizations and families will start combing the ditches for garbage as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. Or, for those that are planning to do any beach clean-up. I thought it was definitely worth sharing the information that the Carlton County Transportation Department made us aware of as a reminder.

There are a couple different scenarios, one is people that put Drano, tin foil, and a little water in plastic drink bottles, capping it, and leaving it in lawns, ditches, driveways and mail boxes. If you were to pick this bottle up and it is shaken, even a little, in 30 seconds or less it can build enough gas to explode with enough force to cause damage. Adding to that danger is bottles is if you find a bottle that contains meth-amphetamine. Some of those bottles have tubes coming from the top of them.

Bottom line is be extremely careful when picking up any plastic bottles that may be lying in your yard, gutter, ditches, etc. Again, it will be a plastic bottle, capped with liquid inside, some may have tubes attached. If moved, it can explode, leaving you with serious damage to your hand, fingers and possibly your face.

Please share this information!

Press release (2012) verified: Carlton County Transportation Department