A mild winter, such as this past one, left many snow removal contractors with a surplus of ice melt product. Ice melt materials, with proper storage, can be kept and used in the coming months, they say. In the Midwest, rock salt is king when it comes to ice melting applications.
“We really got lackadaisical throughout the years because it was so readily available. Then as this shortage took place, it’s been my experience you really want to plan ahead,” says Tom Barry, founder of Battle Creek Landscape Service, based in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Barry says prices were reasonable up until the 2012-2013 season. Then there was a salt shortage and prices have been higher ever since.
“I don’t see them ever going back down that low,” he says.
Read the full story from the November issue here.