Gentle use of road salt in winter service

The winter season, snowfall and icy surfaces bring joy to many people, young and old alike. However, it is always important to consider how to ensure sufficient safety on roads and sidewalks.

"Both sides are important: people's fun and enjoyment of snow and ice, but also safety on the roads and sidewalks. And the latter should always be done as quickly and as well as possible so that the fun of snow is not lost in more suitable places," says Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of Urban Development and Environment.

A frequently discussed issue is the use of road salt, whether privately or by the city. Kommunalservice Jena, which carries out winter road maintenance on municipal areas, aims to use road salt in an environmentally friendly manner - adapted to the weather and road situation as far as possible. For this reason, the more efficient pre-wetted salt method has already been used in recent years, which enables individual dosing and better adhesion to the road. Damp salt is a mixture of 70% salt and 30% brine. Expanded shale, which is certified with the "Blue Angel", is also used as a gritting agent on sidewalks.

The owners are responsible for safety on private property. This can also help to protect the environment from the harmful effects of salt and minimize the use of road salt.

The specialist environmental service has compiled some tips on how to minimize the use of road salt:

• Clear the sidewalk of snow as quickly as possible with a snow shovel or broom to prevent fresh snow from sticking.
• Use salt-free, blunting grit such as sand, chippings or granulate (commercially recognizable by the Blue Angel). You can sweep up the grit after the snow has melted and reuse it the next time it snows.
• Only in the case of stubborn icy conditions and in hazardous areas such as steps, ramps, steep slopes, bridge entrances and exits should the use of road salt be given priority.