Q&A
Alternatives to chloride-based road deicing chemicals
0:19:43
ยท
52 sec
Acting Commissioner Lojan discusses DSNY's stance on alternatives to chloride-based road deicing chemicals. The department has considered alternatives but finds them impractical due to cost and effectiveness concerns.
- DSNY does not currently use alternatives to chloride-based deicing chemicals
- The department has previously investigated alternatives
- Cost is a major factor: sodium acetate, an alternative used by DOT, costs about $3,300 per ton
- In comparison, DSNY pays $76 to $86 per ton for rock salt
- The significant cost difference makes alternatives prohibitively expensive for citywide use
- Effectiveness of alternatives is also a concern for DSNY's large-scale operations
Shaun Abreu
0:19:43
Does DSNY procure alternatives to chloride based rodent deicing chemicals?
Javier Lojan
0:19:48
So we don't really, use any alternatives.
0:19:54
You know, we pretty much, we've looked at this in the past a couple other times, and a lot of it just cost prohibitive.
0:20:01
For example, DOT uses, sodium acetate and just for, like, a order of magnitude so you kinda get a sense of so my understanding is for the sodium acetate, which is an alternative that I believe they use, they pay about $33100 a ton.
0:20:19
For our rock salt, we pay, from 76 to $86 a ton.
0:20:24
So you can see the difference there.
0:20:26
For us to use that alternative, it would be just really expensive.
0:20:30
And, the effectiveness too is another thing that, you know, we'd be concerned about.