Oakland County Parks Shares Tips for Protecting Environment While Removing Ice
(Oakland County Parks, Jan. 15, 2025)
Oakland County, MI- As snow and ice season arrives, it’s crucial to keep roads and walkways safe, but traditional salting practices come with environmental costs.
Sodium chloride, commonly used for de-icing, can contaminate drinking water, harm wildlife, damage infrastructure and contribute to waterway pollution when used in excess. Here are some sustainable suggestions and best practices that can help avoid environmental damage from salting.
Use only as much salt as necessary. A coffee mug sized amount covers 10 sidewalk squares. Sweep up excess salt to prevent it from entering storm drains. Use salt alternatives like brine solutions, beet juice, molasses, sand, saline solution, pickle brine, coffee grounds, calcium or magnesium chloride and porous pavements!Support your local municipal programs focused on sustainable salting practices, such as brine use or solar-heated roads.Check your municipal resources to see if your city participates in safe salting practices.
This winter, consider these ice management practices to keep roads and pathways safe while protecting the environment.
Learn more about sustainable salting and its impact here:
