Research on phyto-remediation to address excess road salt seems warranted. Phyto-remediation is the uptake of compounds by plants and then the plant material is harvested to remove a portion of the compound from the ecosystem. Road salt could be intercepted before it reaches critical ecosystems and removed using phyto-remediation techniques. What are the best plants to use to take up salt? What is the best harvesting regime? What proportion of the salt can be intercepted and removed? Is salt phyto-remediation practical in north-temperate ecosystems?
I support eliminating salt use on our roadways, and do not believe that any treatment other than sand should be used. If you live in an area that expects snow, buy snow tires and slow down!
Mandatory winter tires,
To stop abusive unnecessary salts spreading when it not required
Definitely support more research and public education to assist developing legislation for road and vehicle pollution to waterways.
We need to look at alternatives that are cost effective and still provide a good level of safety on the roads. We need to protect the environment for both our and future generations.
Ecosystems recover slower than road salt damages them. It’s time to make some changes.
This is sadly not new. Environment Canada explored this issue over 20 years ago and expressed concern for environmental impacts.
Obligatory snow tires would help. It also seems like salt I spread even when it is not totally necessary. If its use cannot be abolished at least it could be minimized and used under certain conditions. This is not ideal, of course, but minimizing a threat is useful.
The quote “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” is often attributed to environmental activist Robert Swan. This statement emphasizes the importance of individual and collective responsibility in addressing environmental challenges. It suggests that relying solely on others, whether it be governments, organizations, or individuals, to take action to save the planet can be a hindrance to meaningful progress.
The quote encourages a sense of personal accountability for environmental stewardship. It implies that everyone has a role to play in protecting the planet, and waiting for someone else to take the lead may result in inadequate efforts to address pressing environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Ultimately, the quote underscores the need for widespread awareness, engagement, and action at both individual and societal levels to create a sustainable and healthy future for the planet.
education is needed at all 3 levels of government for how our roadways and public rights of ways are managed as they make up a huge amount of land and they are directly connected to our waterways, also huge impact on our pollinators.
Schedule 1 Ecosystem Toxic designation is an essential freshwater protection requirements.
This also concerns people whose drinking water comes from a local well. I know of one whole family who can no longer drink the water from their own well as they all have extremely high sodium levels in their blood.
I’m writing this from the cottage. It snowed today and the roads almost all the way here were swimming in salty run off even though these same roads were beside lakes, rivers and on bridges over and wetlands. We do so poorly at respecting nature.
Maybe we need to legislate that drivers use winter tires in the winter like Quebec. Oddly enough in my small town very few people put winter tires on their vehicles! I’m Stunned!
Please tell me more. What is eco-friendly, AND more cost effective, AND best option for our roads. I live in the country. To get any basic supplies, I need to travel by road to the nearest towns. Tell me what I can do. Also, please make it mandatory that our Provincial and Municipal legislators are also made aware of these types of options. Once one is educated in this, one can’t be “uneducated”. Tell us what is available.
It’s time to take another crack at getting salt listed under CEPA as a toxic substance.
Private contractors should be regulated and not permitted to apply huge amounts of salt to parking lots, just to cut down on the number of return trips to a parking lot. It saves them money, but costs everyone and the environment.
Alternatives are likely significantly more expensive – also there is a narrow temperature band over which salt is an effective solution to icy roads. It is unclear that usage is limited to these periods. Encouraging drivers to drive to winter driving conditions would help – hence education is a key step. These more expensive solutions (KCl) costs could be be offset by a winter road tax on fuel
Please include information on alternatives. Also on minimal effective amounts.
Excessive salt is lathered on roads, as a result of successful lawsuits filed against government bodies for slippery roads.
If laws were to be changed to hold drivers responsible, much less salt would be required and reduced speeding would lead to much fewer collisions.
Industries need to look for a more eco friendly solution for snow and ice treatment………it is incomprehensible to think that in today’s age salt is being used. The harm to locals waters and the aquatic inhabitants of the water is irreversible……
Industries need to look for a more eco friendly for snow and ice treatment………it is incomprehensible to think that in todays age salt is being used
There must be alternatives; it’s just a case of committed investigation followed by education and implementation – most people want to do the right thing.
I support putting in legislation to limit or prevent salt on roads;use alternate forms to create traction for roads
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I recall a study by the Ontario Ministry of Environment in the mid 1980’s that predicted in fifty years drinking water sources of southern Ontario would exceed drinking water standards if salt on roads continued as it was then. My perception has been salt use has increased as people demanded salt on roads to improve driving conditions. Since then the great research once done by our public serivce for environment has been severely cut.