Rock salt is not the only solution to take on icy roads during winter. A southern Illinois company is producing a mixture made from organic beets and salt water to fight ice and snow.
Environmental Remediation & Recovery in Mounds, Illinois began making the product in 2013 and found it to be quite successful.
“The people that have use it really love it,” said Edward Doss, president and CEO of the company.
The mixture is a liquid organic accelerator made to control snow and ice. Sprayed on roads it makes snow and ice melt.
The company already sold over 300,000 gallons of the mixture according to Doss, and he said he expects to sell over a million gallons during the winter season. So far, ER&R has sold its beet juice mixture to cities in Missouri, Arkansas and hopes to reach municipalities in Illinois.
This sticky, biodegradable product can stick to the roads for up to two weeks. It can be used as a preventive measure or as a solution.
“That’s the good part, it can be put on at any time,” Doss said.
As the mixture melts ice and snow, Doss said it reduces usual snow removal cost for its customers. Last year’s harsh winter made the price of rock salt go up and Doss said the beet juice mixture cost a third of the price of traditional rock salt, which contributes to its growing success.