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The Ever-present Salt bins

Grit Bins also known as salt bins are street furniture that are commonly found in places where freezing temperatures and snowfall is common. These sturdy containers are used to hold salt and grit mixture which are used on snow covered and unsafe sidewalks and roadways.

When the mixture is spread over a snow covered ground, there are two things that happen. First, low temperature that will lower the melting point of the snow is applied by the salt portion of the mixture, turning ice into liquid. This mixture allows the sunshine to melt the ice and snow no matter how faint or intense it is thanks to a chemical process which involves sodium chloride to absorb ambient heat from the sun. The second process is mainly more of a physical change wherein the grit provides traction to slippery surface caused by the chemical change. Grit, which is usually made of sand, pebbles, and woodchips provide the traction for the non-slipping of the tires and people walking on the sidewalk.

This process is a much better option as compared to having trucks and bulldozers clearing snow off the road or shoveling snow from the pathways. Besides from being expensive, snow trucks also require high maintenance as well. Alternatively, Grit Bins are easy on the budget and low maintenance as well. Driving can be very risky on snow covered roads as it often leads to the wheels spinning out of control and leading to accidents. Moreover, snow covered sidewalks are also very dangerous to passersby who may suffer from injuries caused by slipping.

Grit bins, on the other hand, are only mere containers that store the grit mixture. The salt-grit mixture can only be supplied by the local councils to the people during their delivery runs. The next problem is the issue about the spreading of mixture on the roadways and sidewalks. This service depends on the local councils, if they provide the grit spreading service or they require local townsfolk to do their share. 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. Because of this problem, it was decided that polyurethane plastic should be used as the material instead. Much like their predecessors, these containers are still not prone to destruction and damage but not because of the weather but the people who vandalize them. 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.

As can be seen, Salt bins perform a huge part to a community that is subjected to weather extremes. They keep salt-grit mixture that is essential to keep roads and sidewalks safe.