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So, I'm slipping and sliding my way to the corner shop (a mile away) and wishing people would salt their bit of the pavement.
Then I thought about carrying a bag of salt with me, so at least my return journey would be less dangerous (I had walking boots on but they're useless on black ice).
Then I wondered about the badness of putting lots of salt on the ground. It kills weeds, as we know, so it must kill any plants that it touches through splashing and excessive gritting.
It also damages concrete and metal: "De-icing chemicals can accelerate deterioration in concrete and steel structures... highways and bridges do suffer from chemical damage. Vehicle corrosion is also accelerated... Even relatively small amounts of chloride will significantly accelerate existing corrosion."
I remember we always had to clean under the car after being out on salted roads, but nobody seems to bother these days.
I think I'll continue salting the pavement in front of my house, but only a narrow strip not the whole width.
Then I thought about carrying a bag of salt with me, so at least my return journey would be less dangerous (I had walking boots on but they're useless on black ice).
Then I wondered about the badness of putting lots of salt on the ground. It kills weeds, as we know, so it must kill any plants that it touches through splashing and excessive gritting.
It also damages concrete and metal: "De-icing chemicals can accelerate deterioration in concrete and steel structures... highways and bridges do suffer from chemical damage. Vehicle corrosion is also accelerated... Even relatively small amounts of chloride will significantly accelerate existing corrosion."
I remember we always had to clean under the car after being out on salted roads, but nobody seems to bother these days.
I think I'll continue salting the pavement in front of my house, but only a narrow strip not the whole width.
)
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