Street Salt Works. However It’s Additionally Dangerous for the Surroundings.

Street salt additionally corrodes autos and bridges, inflicting $5 billion in annual repairs in america, based on an estimate by the Environmental Safety Company. AAA suggests drivers wash and clear their autos repeatedly throughout winter to assist offset the results of highway salt and to restrict driving when salt and different de-icing chemical substances are at their highest concentrations.

In Britain, the Salt Affiliation mentioned that salt was the most affordable type of de-icing materials and that it had a low environmental influence when used responsibly. “As with all freeway upkeep actions, there are environmental implications from winter highway upkeep,” the group mentioned in an announcement. “Highways depots, spreading autos and the de-icing agent all contribute, however with good administration, this burden could be minimized.”

Different strategies can mitigate the harm.

Whereas there may be not an ideal answer to the problem, there are options that may considerably cut back salt utilization with out compromising driver security.

One technique includes treating roads earlier than storms with a salt brine answer, which may result in a 75 p.c discount within the quantity of salt used whereas preserving roads simply as secure, based on the Cary Institute. Constructing higher salt storage websites may also decrease waste.

Some counties, like Jefferson County, Wis., have already made adjustments. Invoice Kern, the county’s freeway commissioner, mentioned switching to a brine answer had enabled the county to chop its salt use by as much as 60 p.c since 2018 with out a rise within the variety of accidents. Through the use of much less salt, the county has decreased its general value for winter upkeep of state and county highways by 20 p.c since 2018, saving about $1.6 million, Mr. Kern mentioned.

Over the previous decade, some states, together with Rhode Island, have handed laws aimed to scale back their use of highway salt and have more and more utilized a brine answer to roads in winter, however environmentalists say extra must be finished.

Whereas engineers have developed higher options, they haven’t been extensively applied partially as a result of they require upfront prices for buying gear, Ms. Kelly mentioned.