Rethinking Winter Driveway Care: Why Salt Isn’t So Sweet for the Environment
December 2025 blog
by: Dawn Slack, Environmental Research Manager
Why Using Salt on Your Driveway Can Harm the Environment
While rock salt (sodium chloride) is a common solution for icy driveways, its use can have serious and lasting environmental consequences. Understanding these impacts can help homeowners make more sustainable choices to protect their property, local ecosystems, and waterways.
Soil Health: Salt increases the salinity of soil, which can damage plant roots, reduce nutrient availability, and slow plant growth. Over time, repeated salt application can make soil less fertile, harming gardens, lawns, and natural vegetation on your property. Even hardy native plants may struggle to survive in high-salt conditions, leading to reduced plant diversity. In sensitive upland areas, salt can disrupt soil structure, reducing water infiltration and increasing erosion, which can worsen stormwater runoff and degrade local habitats.
Gravel/sand alternative: Gravel and sand do not dissolve into the soil or change its chemical composition. They provide traction without altering soil structure, allowing plants and microorganisms to remain healthy through the winter and spring.
Water Quality: As snow and ice melt, salt is carried by runoff into storm drains, streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Elevated salinity levels can stress freshwater ecosystems, harming fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. Salt can also alter the balance of nutrients and minerals in water bodies, contributing to long-term ecological changes, such as shifts in plant and algal growth, and reducing overall water quality for humans and wildlife.
Gravel/sand alternative: Gravel and sand are inert materials that stay on the surface. They do not leach chemicals into water systems, protecting freshwater habitats, fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates.
Wildlife & Pets: Salt can irritate the paws of dogs and cats, causing cracking, burns, or discomfort. Wildlife may also be affected if they ingest salt directly or through contaminated water sources, which can alter natural behaviors, reduce survival rates, or cause health issues. Birds, small mammals, and insects are particularly vulnerable in winter when alternative water sources are limited, and the added stress from salt contamination can affect their ability to find food and shelter.
Gravel/sand alternative: Gentle on paws and safe if ingested in small amounts, gravel and sand do not pose chemical risks to pets or wildlife. They allow safe movement for all species without altering behavior or health.
Infrastructure Damage: Salt is highly corrosive, posing risks to concrete, asphalt, metal structures, and vehicles. Driveways, fences, outdoor steps, and even underground pipes can deteriorate over time, leading to costly repairs. Salt can also accelerate the degradation of road surfaces and increase maintenance needs, creating additional economic and environmental costs for communities.
Gravel/sand alternative: Non-corrosive and harmless to surfaces, gravel and sand reduce slip hazards without damaging driveways, walkways, or outdoor structures. They are a low-maintenance, long-lasting solution.
Long-Term Ecosystem Effects: Repeated salt use can alter local landscapes, reduce vegetation cover, and accelerate soil erosion—especially along shorelines and uplands. Salt-affected soils have reduced water absorption capacity, which can increase runoff, exacerbate flooding, and harm natural habitats for plants and wildlife. Over time, this can create cascading effects, disrupting local ecosystems and reducing the resilience of natural areas to storms and climate impacts.
Gravel/sand alternative: Gravel and sand stay on the surface, providing traction while protecting soil and plant health. They help reduce erosion by improving grip for foot and vehicle traffic without compromising nearby habitats.
In conclusion, choosing how we manage icy driveways may seem like a small decision, but it has far-reaching impacts on soil health, water quality, wildlife, infrastructure, and local ecosystems. By opting for eco-friendly alternatives like gravel or driveway sand, homeowners can maintain safe, slip-free surfaces throughout the winter while protecting their property and the environment. Simple changes like these help preserve the health of our gardens, waterways, and wildlife habitats—ensuring that both our landscapes and local ecosystems remain resilient through the winter and beyond.