John Homes, a health and safety writer, recently proposed this article for GBE. “I thought this might be good considering were getting into winter and it’s getting very chilly now,” he wrote. His email seemed sensible. While it’s not chilly quite yet, at least in Colorado, hopes remain high that snows will coon fall. When that does happen, this post seems timely, certainly from a safety perspective. Thanks, John.
With winter on its way, you might be looking for eco-friendly methods to get rid of snow and ice. Walking awkwardly down your driveway every morning and navigating frostbitten stairs is certainly not fun, but there are things you can do that won’t harm the environment.
Use white rock salt
As white rock salt is 100 per cent natural it will help you clear outside spaces without damaging the world around you. It prevents moisture from freezing on a wide range of surfaces and can even thaw out thin layers of ice and snow. It’s often supplied in 25kg bags for easy storage, but if you want to buy in bulk, it’s worth investing in a grit bin. These are weatherproof containers that can stay outside all year and are designed to keep your rock salt dry.
Get hold of brown grit
Although brown de-icing salt is mined, it’s made from natural deposits that have formed over millions of years. Like white salt, it can be applied liberally to the ground, but the gritty residue it leaves behind provides more traction underfoot. It’s also available in 25kg bags, but if you have a larger area to treat, it might be worth ordering a pallet. The weather can change in an instant during winter, so this is certainly a product you’ll want to keep nearby.
Ice melt
If you are looking for something that can be used around plants and animals, ice melt could be just what you need. It’s non-corrosive and provides up to ten times the coverage of salt-based products. A light sprinkling melts snow and ice on contact and it will even stop refreezing for up to 24-hours, meaning you won’t have to constantly reapply it. Bags of ice melt are available, or you can purchase it in a liquid form.
Use shovels and spreaders
Moving snow from one place to the other is hardly going to increase your carbon footprint, so check your winter safety equipment and buy a new snow shovel if necessarily. If you have plenty of land, you might benefit from a heavy duty model, but if you only have small area to clear, a space-saving shovel could be more appropriate. Don’t fancy heaving up the white stuff? Then get hold of a snow plow, as these will help you clear large areas efficiently.
We all have a duty to protect the planet, so do you bit and get rid of ice and snow in an eco-friendly way.
Image: Many shovels in fresh snow from Shutterstock
