Roads in Canada become treacherous when covered with snow and ice, so salt is often used to keep them clear, but it is very corrosive and cities are looking for alternatives.
Besides damaging cars and footwear, sodium chloride is bad for vegetation, pets and wildlife. The city of Toronto is instead, looking at using a derivative of beets which apparently has a pale pink colour.
Cheese brine is usually thrown out by the dairy industry in Wisconsin in the United States but now is part of the de-icing process in that state. Other American towns are mixing molasses into a salt brine solution that apparently makes it better adhere to roads better and less corrosive.
EcoTraction is a substance made of non-toxic volcanic rock and invented by a Canadian company. Its founder, ark Watson developed the product after his dog died of cancer, perhaps triggered by toxins in road salt.
Garlic smells filled the air in Ankeny, Iowa, also in the U.S. after a spice factory donated nine tonnes of unwanted garlic salt which the city spread on roads there.
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