grit bin

Roads that are not gritted during winter are much more dangerous for vehicles and foot traffic, so busy routes can be gritted several times per day under harsh snowy conditions.

Anyone may use a grit bin to clear a public path or road, though they are generally not intended for personal use. Typically, a spade or shovel is used to spread a thin layer of grit onto the road surface, covering any snow or ice. The salt lowers the melting point of the snow causing it to melt (see sodium chloride). The grit component improves the friction between a vehicle's tires and the road. Some grit bins have a small compartment, which could be used for storing a spade or shovel. The one featured in the photograph at the top of the page is filled through the top hatch. The salt boxes of Baltimore, Maryland, United States, have been in use since at least 1969, and have attracted attention on social media as a symbol of Baltimore culture. In Sweden, the bins contain mainly sand and sometimes sand mixed with salt. The construction and appearance of the bins are similar to bins in other countries.

• Illustration — A prefab concrete bin that has been replaced by a plastic one Grit bins were originally made of concrete, wood or even stone, though these are now increasingly being replaced by models constructed from plastic partly from safety concerns: vehicles/people hitting a plastic grit bin will suffer less damage. However, the lower weight of plastic makes grit bins easier to steal or tip over.

• Illustration — German grit bin Grit bins can be subjected to vandalism, such as arson. The lid can also be left open, leaving rain to dilute the rock salt in the mixture, leaving it much less effective than dry rock salt. In the United Kingdom, the local county council is usually responsible for maintaining and refilling grit bins as well as spreading rock salt on the roads. In Norway, the problem with tipping grit bins over has been solved by making them large enough to hold about 500 kg of grit, and to continually keep it topped up.