FSI Landscape Supply weighs in on Road salt: The winter’s $2.3 billion game changer. 

Anita Balakrishnan from CNBC brings to our attention the importance of road salt. https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/18/salting-the-roads-is-an-economic-big-deal.html

Although this article was released a few years ago, the information provided holds truth to the current evaluation of road salt. FSI Landscape Supply expresses, “many articles and many individuals highlight the negative impacts of road salt. You don’t see many articles or blogs showcasing how crucial road salt is to those who experience harsh winter weather. It’s nice to see all sides.” Norman Jones, the environmental services commissioner for Rochester, New York, stated that due to the volume of salt purchased, they were able to decrease the number of school closures due to winter weather. FSI Landscape Supply expresses, “this shows that to keep schools and businesses open, road salt is essential to help keep paths clear, safe and essential to keep establishments running efficiently.”

The article written by Anita Balakrishnan highlights the amount of money spent on winter road maintenance in the US. In Canada, it is estimated that in 2018, $350 million was spent on road salt. FSI Landscape Supply shares, “we are a product of our environment. If we did not experience harsh weather conditions, then, of course, there would not be a need to spend x amount of dollars on winter road maintenance. If we analyze the big picture, for the amount of ground that needs to be covered, you can not put a price on safety”.    

Environmental concerns are growing. In regard to the amount of sodium levels in our water sources can raise a lot of eyebrows. The article highlights the snowiest cities in the United States, such as Boulder, Colorado, and Anchorage, Alaska, who have switched to other alternative measures. FSI Landscape Supply highlights, “there are many areas that get hit worse with snow and icy conditions than others. We share the common concern of safe roads. In Canada, we have also experimented with adding other agents to salt or using beet juice to assist with the amount of salt use. However, no matter which way we look at it, salt is needed.”

The article states that purchasing ahead of season poses financial issues. FSI Landscape Supply suggests “there are ways to safely and properly store any excess amount of salt from a previous season, the amount saved should be carried over. Therefore, there is no excessive waste of money or loss of product due to damage.” In other words, investing in an abundant amount of road salt, when appropriately managed, will always be beneficial. FSI shares “each year it is difficult to determine how the winter season will play out, it constantly changes. Therefore, it is better to have plenty of road salt than not enough. As the article states, a large percent of reduced winter road accidents are due to road salt. De-icing salt is the best investment for the safety of your citizens.”