BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 24, 2022
There is nothing fun about an ice-covered driveway or walkway. Unfortunately, the go-to method of spreading rock salt to de-ice those surfaces is also bad for the environment. That does not mean you need to slip and slide your way through a Maine winter. There are several alternatives to rock salt that do the job just as well. “Rock salt is toxic to the environment in high concentrations,” according to Bill Sheehan of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. It’s a good idea to minimize its use. Sand absorbs the sunlight, which helps melt the ice. It also adds traction so you can walk on it without slipping and falling. Vinegar melts snow and ice. Coffee grounds absorb sunlight to make the ice melt faster and add a bit of traction. Wood ash, likewise, absorbs sunlight to help ice melt and provides traction. Alfalfa meal is a natural fertilizer that melts ice, is grainy so it gives some traction and it will help boost the quality of your soil. Sugar beet juice, if you can find it in enough quantities, lowers the melting point of ice and snow.