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December 23, 2008 9:43 AM

In Defense of a Four-lettered Word: Salt

I believe in reducing waste, recyling and reusing anything with an iota of life left in it, but I'll risk my environmentalist credentials to support the use of salt.

Not the savory grains harvested off the shores of exotic locales like France and Hawaii, resplendent in their shades of blush, cream, gray or charcoal. I'm talking about their tougher, more common cousin, the salt used to de-ice sidewalks and roadways. Our region is underneath a blanket of white and a policy of salt and snow plows could be our way out. But a Seattle Times story pulls the curtain back on a disappointing landscape of city officials who, during this huge snowstorm, are refusing to okay the use of salt because it can be harmful to the environment, particularly to Puget Sound.

Give me a break. Few things aren't harmful to the environment if used incorrectly. But salt can be used safely. Full disclosure:

I grew up on the East Coast where sprinkling salt on roads and sidewalks was as ubiquitous as wearing snow boots and down jackets. East Coasters aren't a bunch of philistines, we just understood the importance of keeping the economy going by moving goods and humans even in the face of Mother Nature's fury.

Salt works, but I don't want to give the impression it is pretty. In snow belt regions, long winters and profligate use of salt meant getting unremoveable moisture stains on leather shoes and boots. A common sight on cars over a few years old was rust stains and bare spots where the salt had eaten into the glossy finish. We proudly called such cars rust buckets. Many people bought old jalopies for use in the winter, sparing nicer cars the indignities of salt rust or fender benders.

One more reason to salt? The chance that icy sidewalks could turn a holiday visit into a long bout of litigation because someone fell on someone else's property. I don't mean to sound like a commercial for the Salt Institute but that grainy spice has its place outside the kitchen.

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Comments

Hi Dave98042, At first I didn't understand the city salt decision, but you have nailed it spot on. Mayor Nickels is really a giant slug... Posted on December 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM by Art V. Jump to comment

Maybe they should pepper the roads with hemp seeds? I grew up where it snowed frequently and understand the impact of salt. It pales in comparison... Posted on December 24, 2008 at 8:15 AM by Daave. Jump to comment

Again...... we are talking about this ONE storm only... the idea that using salt in the case of this "epic storm" would cause any... Posted on December 24, 2008 at 9:23 AM by drivesmenuts. Jump to comment

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