alternatives-road-salt 
Academy of Natural Sciences
DECEMBER 1, 2022
When cold weather arrives each year, an estimated 20 million tons of sodium chloride, or salt, is scattered on U.S. When all this salt melts, it runs directly into our soil, groundwater and nearby freshwater streams and rivers, persisting in the ecosystem year after year, increasing the salination levels with every storm’s application.
New Scientist
JANUARY 16, 2024
The salt we spread to keep roads safe in winter is damaging ecosystems and threatening water supplies. Do alternatives, from coffee grounds to cheese brine, work?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
PA Environment Daily
JANUARY 29, 2024
By Harry Campbell, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Some of us are old enough to remember the salt company slogan of the 1900s, “When it rains, it pours!” When rain poured on Pennsylvania recently, much of the deicing agents used on our local and state roads hitched a ride with the resulting runoff to the nearest waterbody.
Environmental News Bits
JANUARY 11, 2023
While neither the city’s Streets and Sanitation Department, nor the Illinois Department of Transportation is expected to completely cut out road salt, there should be a continual push to reduce the amount used by experimenting with more environmentally friendly products. Read the editorial from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Circle of Blue
AUGUST 22, 2022
Lighter green areas are fallow/abandoned sections of the fields with salt concentrations too high to plant. Conservation easements can facilitate a transition of cropland to salt marsh, providing numerous ecosystem services and up to 90% of the market value for farms. Saltwater intrusion on a corn field in Hyde County, NC.
Enviromental Defense
DECEMBER 30, 2021
If you experience snowfall during the winter season, you’re probably well aware of what we like to call “road salt season”. More often than not, a heavy handed approach is being used by cities, privately owned businesses, and residents alike in order to try and avoid accidents caused by slippery roads, walkways, and lots.
PA Environment Daily
FEBRUARY 24, 2023
My car and windshield were caked in dried road salt. While this year has been relatively snow-free for much of the Keystone State, state and local road crews have been actively adding salt when the threat of wintry weather hits. Thousands more tons were likely added by local municipal road crews.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
128 
Let's personalize your content