SDG Counties commit to updated Salt Management Plan - The Review Newspaper

At the Monday, March 17 meeting, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry (SDG) Counties council adopted updates to its Salt Management Plan (SMP) for roads. The SMP functions as a roadmap and report card, documenting the progress that municipalities have made in becoming more environmentally responsible through sustainable investments and long-term conservation efforts with respect to the use of road salt.

A report to council explained that road salt is a product required to keep roads safe during winter weather operations. In total, SDG is responsible for conducting winter maintenance on 981 kilometres of roadway and 191 bridges.

As part of its environmental goals, SDG Counties works to minimize salt use while balancing community and road safety needs.

SDG is already using many of the current technologies available, keeping it at the forefront of best environmental practices. The SMP aligns with SDG’s Green Living strategic priorities.

Historically, SDG has purchased and utilized approximately 25,805 tonnes of salt annually between 2005 and 2022, with significant fluctuations in recent years.

Submitted photo of the historic road salt use in SDG Counties.

To continuously improve the SMP, SDG will conduct period reviews of industry practices, implement detailed documentation, provide annual staff training, and update policies and procedures as needed.

With council’s unanimous approval, the updated SMP sets the stage for continued innovation in balancing winter road safety and environmental responsibility within the region. Council will receive a full update once the finalized revisions are implemented.