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The Omnipresent Salt bins

Grit Bin or salt bins are containers that are often used in countries that commonly experience snowfall and freezing temperatures. These robust containers hold salt and grit mixture which is spread over snow covered roadways and sidewalks.

Two things happen the moment the grit bins apply their mixture they are holding on the ground. First, ice is turned into liquid with the help of the salt portion of the mixture which lowers the melting point of the snow. This is made possible thanks to a chemical process which involves sodium chloride absorbing ambient heat and therefore allowing the sun to melt the ice. The second action is physical change, where the grit provides traction because of the wet and icy result of the chemical change. Grit often is a mixture of woodchips, sand, and pebbles to provide tires and under soles the traction to prevent slipping during the travel over the road and the sidewalks.

This is an easier and much better alternative than shoveling snow off the pathways or using bulldozers and snow trucks to clear the road. Snow trucks, for one, are very expensive and requires high maintenance. Alternatively, Grit Bins are easy on the budget and low maintenance as well. Accidents are very common when driving on snow covered roads with the wheels usually spinning out of control. Snow covered sidewalks, on the other hand, presents risks on passersby who have a huge possibility of slipping and suffering from injuries because of it.

The problem though is that these grit bins are only containers. The salt-grit mixture can only be supplied by the local councils to the people during their delivery runs. The next issue would be spreading the mixture on the roadways and the sidewalks. It actually depends on the local councils if they will also be the one providing the grit spreading service of if they will ask some of the local townsfolk to help. The last option will require communities to shovel in spread the grit mixture in certain parts of their neighborhoods in shifting schedules.

The first grit bin designs were made of stone and concrete but these types of containers became easily brittle and lost their effectivity fast. As a result, the later designs were then built out of polyurethane plastic material. These grit bins still suffered from damage and destruction but it is because of the people vandalizing them and not due to weather causes. This container also face maintenance issues such as leaving their lids opens and letting moisture and rainfall render the mixture useless and tipping it over and leaving the mixture carelessly spilled on the surroundings.

Truly, Salt bins perform a huge role in the community that often suffer from extreme weather. They keep salt-grit mixture that is essential to keep roads and sidewalks safe.