Sustainable Purchasing Resources: De-Icers
LET US KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND A SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL WORKSHOP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WMPSC PRODUCTS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO PLEVIN@DELTA-INSTITUTE.ORG WITH THE SUBJECT SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL WORKSHOP.
WMSPC vendors
WMSPC has awarded two vendors with Master Services Agreements for environmentally preferable granular deicing products.
Currently, all orders are priced for delivery direct from the vendors to WMSPC members. Because there may be smaller-volume purchasers that wish to take advantage of these environmentally preferable products, WMSPC is working with the vendors to find local re-sellers and distribution points.
ATTN: Small volume purchasers. So that we can gauge interest and aggregate potential small purchases, please email plevin@delta-institute.org if you are interested in procuring less than a pallet of these products. (Bags are 50 lbs each, and a pallet contains 48 bags.)
- WELLSPRING MANAGEMENT
Wellspring Management's EcoSalt, ICE-AX, and GeoSalt are sodium chloride products blended with GEOMELT 55 -- a sugar beet-based accelerator that improves the melting capabilities of salt, and thereby results in an overall salt usage reduction of 20-30%. These products can be applied at 60-70% the rate of untreated rock salt. 1 ton of sodium chloride is treated with 5-7 gallons of GEOMELT.
EcoSalt: Use on sidewalks, boulevard and high traffic pedestrian areas. Pellet size passes through 2.36-4.75mm sieve with fines removed. [EcoSalt MSDS]
ICE-AX: Use on parking lots, driveways, street surfaces and other low traffic pedestrian areas. Pellet size passes through 9.5-12.5mm sieve with fines removed. [ICE-AX MSDS]
GeoSalt: Use on parking lots, driveways, street surfaces and other low traffic pedestrian areas. Pellet size passes through 12.5-19.0mm sieve per ASTM 632 specifications. [GeoSalt MSDS]
For more information, view the fact sheet and MSDS for GEOMELT 55 de-icing fluid, which is blended with granular salt or salt brine to enhance performance.
To view pricing, you must be (or become a member) and log in to your account. - CRYOTECH
Cryotech's CMA (Calcium Magnesium Acetate) is a chloride-free product used in large part to reduce the corrosive effects of chlorides on bridges, parking decks, and other capital-intensive infrastructure, as well as the 'burning' effects of chlorides on vegetation.
Typical CMA customers are concerned with concrete spalling, corrosion or environmental issues. They include transportation agencies, military installations, universities, property management firms, and commercial facilities. They require the performance of a solid deicer without the risk of negative environmental impact or infrastructure damage generally associated with chlorides and urea. For these reasons, CMA is often specified by design engineers for use on bridge decks, parking garages and sidewalks, and by operation managers to solve environmental problems such as ground water contamination, soil compaction and vegetation burn.
For more information, view the Fact Sheet, MSDS and FAQ.
To view pricing, you must be (or become a member) and log in to your account.
Webinar (1/27/2009)
- Audio (MP3)
- Webinar Visual:
Ron Wright (PPT)
Dave Budd, Michigan Department of Transportation (PPT)
Resources
- Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual (PDF). Manual of Best Practices to help you reduce environmental impacts and make better, proactive, cost-effective choices in winter parking lot and sidewalk management.
- Pacific Northwest Snowfighters. The mission of the PNS is to provide specifications for the highest quality products balancing quality of environment with providing the safest possible transportation system and maximum mobility for the traveling public during snow and ice conditions, within reasonable budgetary, product performance and environmental constraints. The association is comprised of technical experts in the fields of chemistry, environment, maintenance operations and management, insurance law and claims, public affairs and purchasing.
- DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup: Chloride Usage Education and Reduction Program Study (August 16, 2007) (PDF)
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Water Bureau's Frequently Asked Question: Potential Adverse Impacts of Deicers with a focus on agricultural by-product deicers on water resources. (September, 2008) (PDF)
- Summary of the Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program report "Guidelines for the Selection of Snow and Ice Control Materials To Mitigate Environmental Impacts" and the associated Material Selection Decision Tool software: http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=883
This report presents guidelines for the selection of snow and ice control materials through an evaluation of their cost, performance, and impacts on the environment and infrastructure. The guidelines should be useful in helping maintenance managers develop a program that will minimize the environmental impacts of snow and ice control without compromising effective maintenance strategies. The Guidelines will help highway agencies fill their dual role of providing safe roadways for the driving public while serving as stewards to protect and enhance the natural environment.
The full report and can be downloaded here (PDF).