Beijing embraced its first snowfall of the winter on Friday. Unlike previous years, the city has adopted more environmentally friendly approaches to clean up snow and ice, bidding farewell to polluted de-icing agents.

Why were de-icing agents abandoned?

De-icing agents, also known as snow-melting agents, are primarily composed of industrial salts such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride. When applied to snow and ice, they lower the freezing point, allowing melting even at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.

However, these agents pose several risks to roads, the environment and human health.

When de-icing chemicals mix with melting snow, they form a salty solution that can seep into concrete and steel structures like bridges and buildings. This leads to electrochemical reactions, causing rust and corrosion that weaken the structure and compromise its integrity.

Additionally, the salty runoff can infiltrate the ground and water systems, raising salinity levels in soil and water. This harms plant and animal life and disrupts local ecosystems.

Moreover, de-icing agents can affect human health, causing skin and eye irritation, as well as respiratory issues.

Physical snow removal

To mitigate the impact of de-icing agents and protect the environment, Beijing's transportation departments have implemented a more refined snow removal strategy. The city's roadways are now categorized into three types: areas where de-icing agents are completely banned, those where their use is significantly reduced, and those where their use is minimized.

Low-chlorine and low-sodium de-icing agents are used in key areas such as bridges, ramps and intersections, with strict regulation of both quantity and timing.

In locations where de-icing agents are prohibited, such as parks, residential areas and pedestrian paths, snow removal is carried out manually, with snowplows and snow sweepers employed extensively.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management, the city has established a comprehensive system in preparation for the first snowfall, involving more than 27,000 personnel, over 4,800 snowplows and snow removal vehicles, more than 7,000 pieces of mechanical equipment and 48,000 manual tools.