08 November 1, 2008 - ObserverXtra

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16 | BUSINESS The Observer | Saturday, November 01, 2008 Taking a low-salt diet on the road Like many of us, the region wants to reduce its sodium intake as snow and ice season approaches MARC MIQUEL HELSEN Waterloo Region’s plan to reduce road salt and its negative impact on groundwater is expected to bear fruit moving into this winter season. Introduced earlier this year, the Smart About Salt initiative aims to educate businesses and organizations about the harmful effects of excess road salt on natural ecosystems and water sources. It also helps them implement alternatives. While municipalities throughout the region have, over the years, worked together to reduce the amount of salt used for de-icing without diminishing road safety, the new program targets other salt users, especially contractors and facility owners in charge of keeping parking lots and sidewalks clear of snow and ice. The region estimates 40 per cent of salt applications come from parking lots and sidewalks. The first step of the program requires registration, collection of information relevant to that site or operation, followed by an information session. Participants also receive worksheets and tools that will help them reduce their salt usage. Once they can indicate PUBLIC HEALTH READY TO ROLL Woolwich’s Kieran Kelly and the other members of the works department are preparing for another season, readying the township’s eight salt trucks. This winter, the salters will use a salt-sand mix that contains six to 20 per cent salt. that self assessments have been made, staff has been trained and that they are properly tracking salt usage, they may they obtain certification. Since the program’s launch in January, five contractors have completed their certification. Elmira’s Chemtura Co. is currently working toward that objective. The Smart About Salt program is also receiving crucial support from the insurance sector. Since fear of liability is a driving force for the over-usage of road salt, bringing insurance companies on board is particularly relevant, say organizers. “Through our discussions with the insurance companies, they’ve come to understand that [overuse of salt] isn’t necessarily the best way to deal with those safety hazards,” said Leanne Lobe, supervisor of the source water protection program at the region. “I think the insurance companies actually are going to play a part of the PROTECT YOURSELF, PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, GET THE INFLUENZA VACCINE! 2008-2009 COMMUNITY INFLUENZA CLINIC SCHEDULE COMMUNITY DATE TIME LOCATION ADDRESS solution.” Indeed, some of those companies are promoting the program; they might even make it a requirement someday, Lobe suggested. Though Smart About Salt targets area businesses, that’s not to say that municipalities – which in many cases are already in regular contact with the region concerning salt reduction – are excluded from the program. In fact, municipalities can get on board with the program by certifying Kitchener 4-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Stanley Park Community Centre 505 Franklin St. N., (off Ottawa) Kitchener Cambridge 5-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Jacob Hespeler Secondary School (cafetorium) 355 Holiday Inn Dr., Cambridge Waterloo 6-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex - Hauser Haus 101 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo Kitchener 10-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Huron Heights Secondary School (cafeteria) 1825 Strasburg Rd., Kitchener Waterloo 12-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Bluevale Collegiate Institute (cafeteria) 80 Bluevale St. North, Waterloo Cambridge 13-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Southwood Secondary School (cafeteria) 30 Southwood Dr., Cambridge Kitchener 18-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm St. Louis Adult Learning Centre 80 Young St., (off Weber) Kitchener New Hamburg 19-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wilmot Recreation Complex (Community Hall) 1291 Nafziger Rd., New Hamburg Elmira 20-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Elmira District Secondary School (cafeteria) 4 University Ave. W., Elmira Cambridge 24-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Preston High School (small gym) 550 Rose Avenue, Cambridge Kitchener 25-Nov-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Victoria Hills Community Centre 10 Chopin Dr., Kitchener Waterloo 1-Dec-08 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sir John A. MacDonald High School (cafeteria) 65 Laurelwood Dr., Waterloo Waterloo 5-Jan-09 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Region of Waterloo Public Health - Waterloo - Rm 508 99 Regina St. S., 5th floor, Waterloo Cambridge 6-Jan-09 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Region of Waterloo Public Health - Cambridge - Board Rm 170 150 Main St., Cambridge, Getting the influenza vaccine can help you and your family stay healthy! For more information: www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ph specific sites belonging to their own departments. As corporate entities, municipalities can certify individual sites, as is the case with the regional landfill; social housing is also looking to change its tender process to incorporate sounder salt practices, said Lobe. “Social housing … they have used the Smart About Salt registration as one of the criteria to evaluate proposals to maintain the sites,” she said, noting that the program works on a site-by-site basis. PERSONAL • Auto • Motorcycle • Boat/Watercraft • Home • Tenants • Condo’s • Home Based Business COMMERCIAL • Property • Auto (Fleet) • Liability • Farm PROUD TO BE A PARTNER WITH PHOTO | MARC MIQUEL HELSEN ESTABLISHED 1925 Though just new, the Smart About Salt program is already gaining interest beyond the region’s limits; within the next year it will likely be licensed to other associations throughout the province. “It’s filling a void; there are no other programs currently out there for this sector within Canada,” said Lobe. Although road salt is an effective de-icing material that is used across the country, the effects of too much sodium on the environment are severe: burning trees, suffocating vegetation, contaminating soil and water bodies. In 2001, the federal government suggested that road salt be placed on a schedule of toxic substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. But harsh winters, like the one visited upon the region last year, require that roads be cleared for safe driving; while a number of alternative de-icing chemicals exist, the cost of road salt makes it the most popular such material across much of North America. Some five million tonnes are dumped on Canadian roads every year. Ontario accounts for some two million tonnes of that to- See SALT »19 C.H. SOEHNER INSURANCE 50 ARTHUR ST. S • ELMIRA, ONTARIO LTD. TEL 519-669-1661 soehner@soehnerinsurance.com www.soehnerinsurance.com
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