The N.C. Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program is recognizing 480 groups across the state for their years of dedicated service to keeping state roadsides litter-free.

Of those 480 groups, 231 have 20 consecutive years of service, 89 have 15 consecutive years, and 160 have 10 consecutive years. They save the state's taxpayers more than $5 million annually by volunteering their time to participate in roadside litter cleanups, according to a news release.

The groups from Moore County recognized by the state are the Whispering Pines Garden Club, the Pinehurst Rotary Club, Roseland United Methodist Church, Foxfire Lcua, the Cleetwood family, Mount Zion A.M.E. Zion Church, the Troutman family and the descendants of River Daniel Blue.

"The department is grateful to these volunteers for their dedication to the Adopt-A-Highway Program," said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. "We appreciate their diligence in keeping their adopted sections of state roadsides free of litter and environmentally sound."

NCDOT has administered the program since 1988. An estimated 100,000 volunteers comprise about 6,000 groups. They have collectively adopted 12,000 roadway miles, picking up more than 3.4 million pounds of roadside litter annually.

The 231 groups being recognized for service since 1989 will receive a special 20-year service star to be placed on their roadside signs. The five points of the star represent the group's dedication, hard work, cooperation, willingness to serve and commitment to keeping North Carolina roadways litter free.

Groups serving since 1994 will receive a five-point, 15-year star for their signs and groups serving since 1999 will receive a plaque and a five-point, 10-year star.

For more information about the program and to view the groups recognized for their years of service, visit the Adopt-A-Highway Web site at www.ncdot.gov/ ~beautification/highway.