SHOW / EPISODE

Rock Salt Does Not Rock!

4m | Jan 25, 2025

Q: What do you recommend as a replacement for rock salt to melt snow and ice?


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A: Well, I certainly do not recommend a blowtorch or a flame thrower! Contrary to what might sound cool, the fire coming out of these tools is incredibly ineffective at melting snow or ice.


The shovel destroys such things in practice in regards to sustainability in this scenario.


With that in mind, before any sort of deicer is used, shoveling is your best weapon and most sustainable option when battling ice and snow. If you are able to keep the spaces you'd like to be clear...clear of all snow, then ice has less of a chance to form.


A sustainable option given all things involved, might be heated sidewalks and driveways. But, this is obviously an option for the few as it's very expensive.


If ice is still a concern after shoveling and you want to throw down some deicer, understand that anything you throw down will cause damage and have some sort of negative effect on animals, plant life, storm drains, waterways, the surface you put it on, your vehicle...pretty much everything it touches.


It's all bad. So let's see what we can do. (Keep in mind that research was not done on the manufacturing of all these items as that could change the sustainability outcome. I just ran out of time do to that at the moment!)


Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) would be my first recommendation. By all current measures, it is the most sustainable alternative to Rock Salt. However, it's hella expensive.


Magnesium chloride is my second suggestion as it might be the least toxic and safer option for living things. It's still harsh, so it's no miracle remedy.


Calcium chloride when compared head on with rock salt is better, but it still harms living things. And while you need less of it, it does cost more than rock salt.


I'd suggest never to use fertilizer (or nitrogen based items like alfalfa) as a deicer. This is a widely suggested alternative, and it does work. However, this chemical will run off and pollute local water systems. Thus not being sustainable.


Some additional food for thought:

• Only use deicer in the spaces where you need it. Like where people walk or drive. Any extra spread is a waste and causing unnecessary damage.

• Be sure to follow the directions for your deicer to the letter. Using more is not sustainable. It's just more costly, more inefficient, and opens the door for more unnecessary harm.

• When laying the deicer down, stay as far away from any plant or wildlife as possible to minimize harm.

• Sweep up extra deicer and ... get this... reuse it! Ya! Did you ever think to sweep all that extra stuff up to reuse it again? Now you will! Hopefully...


And a stinger to leave you on:

There are no proven "Safe" deicers to use around our human companion animals. There are just less harmful options. Whatever you use, use the least amount possible, and don't let it sit once the ice and snow have melted away. Sweep it up, and reuse it!


Got a question or problem that you want a zero waste & sustainable answer to? Drop us a line and see if we can help!

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