City of Toronto - Transportation Services
City of Toronto, Transportation Services, was the first major road authority in Canada to produce a comprehensive Road Salt Management Plan.
Description
In 2001, at the conclusion of a five-year study Environment Canada released an assessment report stating that road salts are entering the environment in large amounts and are posing a risk to plants, animals, birds, fish, lake and stream ecosystems and groundwater. The report recommended that salt be designated toxic under schedule I of the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA).
In a proactive response to the growing environmental concerns regarding road salt, the City of Toronto's Transportation Services began the preparation of a Salt Management Plan in 2001. The Plan was completed in November 2001 and was distributed to managers and operations staff for review and implementation. The Salt Management Plan (SMP) sets out a policy and procedural framework for ensuring that the City of Toronto continuously improves the management of road salt used in winter maintenance operations and Transportation Services continues to ensure road safety by better management of the City's use of salt.
The Salt Management Plan (SMP) strives to minimize the amount of salt entering the environment. Several objectives are outlined in the SMP, including best salt handling practices and the use of new technologies. For instance, all equipment used to spread salt shall have electronic spreader controls by 2005 to prevent excess salt spreading. In order to prevent leakage, all salt and salt/sand blends shall be stored inside buildings, and on impermeable floors. To reduce the loss of salt during delivery operations all deliveries must be made in dry weather and all delivery trucks must be tarped. Also of significance, a pre-wetting program was implemented where standard road salt is mixed with water to make an inexpensive salt brine. This process pre-activates the salt to melt ice and snow on contact with the ground. The salt brine sprayed on the road is also less likely to 'bounce and scatter', as often the case with solid salt crystals where up to 40% can be lost in ditches and gutters. The pre-wetting process returns roads to normal driving conditions faster with the use of 10-20% less salt. Information on the City's approach to winter maintenance and salt management is distributed to the public through multiple media channels to encourage citizens to reduce their personal salt use. And lastly as part of the SMP, in depth training modules are presented to staff on the environmental impacts of salt and salt best management practices.
In preparing and implementing the Salt Management Plan, Transportation Services has partnered with Environment Canada, Ontario Good Roads Association, Ecoplans Limited, Transportation Association of Canada and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority.
Benefits
Environmental
As a result of SMP guidelines, approximately 14 000 fewer tonnes of salt were used in 2003/2004 compared to the base year of 2001/2002. Salt spread on local roads since the introduction of the SMP has been reduced by 35-50%. These actions contribute to a reduction in the amount of road salts entering the environment. Therefore, lake and stream ecosystem quality has improved since the implementation of the SMP and communities can continue to enjoy these areas for recreation, while the wildlife habitats are preserved.
Economic
The pre-wetting program has associated costs that include $20 000 to equip a truck with pre-wetting hardware, and 4-6 cents per litre of salt brine. These costs are all offset by the reduced rate of salt application. This is significant, because since the introduction of the SMP in 2001, approximately 50 000 fewer tones of salt were used, representing a savings of approximately $3 000 000. In 2003, approximately 50 000 litres of salt brine were used, and in the next few years the city expects to be using 2 000 000 litres of salt brine due to the effectiveness of the pre-wetting program.
Social
Extensive staff training on the SMP has resulted in better educated and informed staff. Staff have an increased level of environmental sensitivity and awareness which benefits all of Toronto Transportation Service winter operations.
Contact Information
Gary Welsh
Director, Transportation Services
1530 Markham Rd., 6th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M1B 3G4
Phone : (416) 396-7842
Fax : (416) 396-5681
E-mail : welsh@toronto.ca
Website : http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/snow/salt.htm
Date Submited
February 2005
Note: The purpose of this sheet is to give recognition to this specific activity in pollution prevention. Environment Canada does not per se endorse the company.