Rock salt has a monopoly as the means to keep roads and sidewalks clear of ice, but it’s not very environmentally friendly. Now, some areas are turning to alternatives like sugar beets.
Sugar beets combined with chlorides are actually more effective and better for plants and cars. Other means of combatting icy roads include pickle juice, cheese brine and old beer, to name a few.
Not only does rock salt corrode metal and pollute waterways, it can also lead to more deer collisions as the animals stop to lick the salt on roads.
If you are going to use salt on your driveway, one cup is often more than enough. A better way to de-ice your driveway is to dissolve less salt in water and use it to spray down onto the ice.
Learn more at https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/more-cities-make-the-switch-from-polluting-salt-to-sugar-beets-to-beat-icy-roads/