Eco-solution: park routes to be sprinkled with eco-friendly granite chips in case of sleet in Kyiv

The practice of sprinkling paths in Kyiv's parks and squares with granite chips in case of sleet is planned to be scaled up.

The Kyiv City Council reported this.

What is the problem?

Industrial salt and other anti-icing reagents have a bad effect on plants and can be harmful to animals.

What is the solution?

The test of an ecological way of combating ice, which was carried out in 2022, proved to be successful and is planned to be implemented next season.

"As expected, granite chips proved to be a reliable anti-icing agent. At the same time, it does not harm plants, unlike industrial salt. We received positive feedback from Kyiv residents and our utility workers," noted Oleksandr Vozniy, head of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Kyiv City Council.

How does it work?

Granite chips are a better solution to combat sleet due to the following:

• Granite chips are more eco-friendly. Industrial salt and other anti-icing reagents have a bad effect on plants and can be harmful to animals, while chips are safe;
• Granite chips can be reused. The granite chips can also be used next winter, having somewhat replenished the reserves.
• At the same time, unlike salt and other chemical reagents, granite chips do not contribute to snow melting.

Moreover, this solution saves budget funds thanks to the low cost of chips – 850 hryvnias per ton, which is almost 16 times cheaper than the price for the same amount of technical salt.