Environmentally friendly winter service on pavements without road salt
Snow and ice should be removed and gritted with sand or gravel in icy conditions
To protect the environment, the City of Chemnitz draws attention to the street cleaning statutes(B-107/2022) in force since January 2023, which prohibit the use of salt and other de-icing substances, as well as to environmentally friendly alternatives for winter road maintenance.
De-icing agents such as road salt cause lasting damage to roadside plants such as street trees and ground-dwelling animals and pollute the soil and groundwater. Dogs are also affected by inflammation of the paws and gastrointestinal tract.
The pavements must therefore be completely cleared with a broom or snow shovel during or after snowfall and with a hoe in the case of ice. Regular clearing is and remains the most environmentally friendly approach. Sand or gravel should be used sparingly to blunt slippery surfaces. For example, gritting agents with the "Blue Angel" eco-label and the addition "salt-free" should be used. These should be removed after the winter season.
The use of thawing substances is only permitted in exceptional cases according to the statutes: "...in special climatic exceptional cases, e.g. in the event of freezing rain, where the use of de-icing agents cannot achieve a sufficient gritting effect, [and] in dangerous places, such as stairs, ramps, bridge entrances and exits, steep slopes or inclines or similar dangerous places."
For the sake of the environment, we urge you to observe the ban on the use of salt-based de-icing agents on pavements and, if necessary, to adjust contracts with service providers.