Warning: Your De-icing Plan Could be Hazardous to the Environment

One of the biggest challenges for salt and snow crews during harsh winter weather and severe snow, is balancing the need for safety and response time to client sites while providing a cost effective service. And, with that, comes growing concern about what happens to the salt that coats roadways and walkways when the residual inevitably stays in the environment.

As we head into the heart of the winter season (mid-January to the end of February being the snowiest in CT, in particular), ELM is stocked and ready to go with plenty of the white stuff – not snow, but approximately 1,200 tons of our own environmentally-friendly road salt.

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Significant amounts of salt is needed to keep grounds ice-free. In fact, about 275 to 350 tons of salt is used by ELM crews in a typical three- to-five inch snowstorm in Westchester, New Haven and Fairfield counties alone. With that in mind, protecting landscape investments is top priority.

At our yard, we mix liquid additives to salt to improve its potency for the safety of our clients’ sites. Calcium chloride provides efficacy in low temps when salt becomes ineffective; pulverized and liquefied tree roots diminishes the environmental impact of the mix; and a corrosion preventer additive lessens damage to hard surfaces. A liquid ingredient also triggers a quicker reaction to snow and ice, plus binds to the pavement to prevent a slippery glaze of ice and snow.

The End Result?
A high-quality product that reduces the amount of salt needed on the ground by nearly 30 percent! This, in turn, lends itself to a lower cost to our clients and less environmental impact all while improving performance during cold winter temperatures – so your business can be kept running safely no matter the weather. A win-win all around!

So, before the predictions of the heavy snowstorms that will overcompensate for the mild winter thus far come true, it makes sense to have a snow removal plan in place. An experienced and eco-friendly snow service provider can design a custom plan that ensures safety and combats environmental damage.

Tell Us
What’s most important to your business when it comes to snow removal this winter?