Combatting ice in an environmentally friendly way – What to bear in mind when gritting

Ice and snow will soon be here again, bringing with them the obligation to make paths and access roads safe. However, conventional de-icing salt is banned in most municipalities as it is harmful to the environment. A report by my colleague Ingo Schleiernick discusses the alternatives available and how everyone can do their bit towards environmental protection.

Listen to the report here (mp3 format, 2,94 MB).

As soon as the first snowflakes fall, many people grab a shovel and start gritting. However, be careful when gritting snowy paths! Although it might seem at first glance to be a quick way to eliminate the risk of slipping, some conventional de-icing grit has a bitter side effect: it harms the environment.

Janine Braumann: De-icing salt can harm plants or trees growing by the side of the road and accumulate in soil. This makes the plants more susceptible to illness or causes them to die prematurely. De-icing salt can, however, also harm animals’ paws or enter bodies of water; it can even be damaging to infrastructure, vehicles and buildings.

…explains Janine Braumann from the German Environment Agency. She recommends measures to combat ice and snow that are both effective and safe for the environment.

Janine Braumann: We recommend shovelling or sweeping away the snow promptly. This prevents it being trodden down as well as turning to ice later on. If there are still slippery patches left once it has been cleared, these should be sprinkled with non-slip, salt-free material.

It is recommended to use grit that has the Blue Angel ecolabel. But how does this differ from conventional products?

Janine Braumann: The Blue Angel guarantees that the grit is more environmentally friendly. Specifically, this means that it is salt-free and creates a non-slip surface. And the best part is that it can be brushed up again afterwards and re-used. This protects resources at the same time.