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The Omnipresent Salt bins

Grit Bin also known as salt bins are street furniture that are commonly found in places where freezing temperatures and snowfall is common. These robust containers hold salt and grit mixture which is spread over snow covered roadways and sidewalks.

There are two things that happen once the mixture from the grit bins are spread on a snow covered ground. First, the salt part of the mixture lowers the melting point of the snow, allowing for lower temperatures to turn the snow and ice into liquid. This is a chemical process where the sodium chloride absorbs ambient heat allowing the sunshine, no matter how little, to melt the ice and snow. The second process is mainly more of a physical change wherein the grit provides traction to slippery surface caused by the chemical change. Grit, which is usually made of sand, pebbles, and woodchips provide the traction for the non-slipping of the tires and people walking on the sidewalk.

This is an easier and much better alternative than shoveling snow off the pathways or using bulldozers and snow trucks to clear the road. Snow trucks, for one, are very expensive and requires high maintenance. In contrast, Salt bins are easy to manage and are affordable as well. Driving can be very risky on snow covered roads as it often leads to the wheels spinning out of control and leading to accidents. When sidewalks are covered with snow, passersby have a huge chance of slipping and have injuries because of the slippery walkways.

The problem though is that these grit bins are only containers. The salt-grit mixture is supplied by the local councils during their delivery runs. Another problem is the issue of the actual spreading of mixture in a certain neighborhood. It actually depends on the local councils if they will also be the one providing the grit spreading service of if they will ask some of the local townsfolk to help. The latter option means that communities should arrange shift assignments when it comes to shoveling and spreading the grit mixture in their neighborhood.

The first grit bin designs were brittle and easily lost their effectivity because they are made of stone and concrete. As a result, the later designs were then built out of polyurethane plastic material. These grit bins still experience damages but this time it is not because of the weather but the people who have a habit of vandalizing them. Other issues regarding the maintenance of grit bins include leaving the lid open, as this allows moisture and rainwater to melt the salt leaving the mixture unusable and tipping the bin over and spilling the contents, causing the mixture carelessly spread out on the roadway.

These information prove that Grit Bin perform a huge role in the community that often suffer from extreme weather. They keep salt-grit mixture that is essential to keep roads and sidewalks safe.