Winter Guide to Healthy Streets

How you can contibute to the health of Queens Quay, Lake Ontario, and our street-trees with sustainable de-icing practices. #

Summary: to help keep our lake clean and the street trees along Toronto’s Waterfront thriving, please avoid using rock salt when clearing the snow and ice from your sidewalks, and use environmentally friendly products like CMA-based ice remover or sand instead.

This Guide was put together by the Waterfront BIA and Waterfront Toronto to support Toronto’s newly revitalised destination waterfront street, Queens Quay.

What you can do to keep our streets, lake and trees safe and healthy during the winter:

If you have to clear snow and ice from your sidewalk or driveway:

1. Shovel – Always shovel or plow first. Clear away the snow as soon as you can so it doesn’t become ice. Try to remove ice patches with an ice chopper.
   
2. CMA – Use Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) when possible. CMA is an environmentally friendly alternative to rock salt. Use 1-3 tablespoons of CMA per one metre square area. CMA works best between 0°c and -7°c.
   
3. Use Less Salt – Salt only works between 0°c and -10°c. ONE tablespoon of salt per one metre square area is all you need. Small grain salt works better.
   
4. Sand – use sand, grit, or non-clumping kitty litter to reduce the risk of slipping and when it’s too cold for salt to work.

If your building has a snow removal company, ask them about their winter maintenance strategies to make sure that it aligns with the above recommendations.