beet juice toronto

Toronto is using beet juice to de-ice roads

In Toronto, many of us have a love-hate relationship with road salt. It undoubtedly keeps us (and our cars) from slipping and sliding, but it also wreaks havoc on the environment and our leather shoes.

But the city of Toronto has another another de-icing weapon in its arsenal: beet juice.

Beet juice has been making headlines lately because Cowanville, Quebec, located in the Eastern Townships, just started using it as an environmentally friendly alternative to salt.

According to the Toronto Star, the city's been using beet juice on roads for years.

“We can use it at 100 per cent concentration, however, it’s best used mixed and we use it as a 50-50 mix with brine, which is the salt solution," Transportation Services spokesperson Steve Johnston tells us.

He says the city uses it when temperatures drop below -12 C.

Lead photo by

Scott Rogers


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Someone tried to help at scene of Ontario crash and had their car stolen immediately

This race proves whether it's faster to 'ride the loop' on TTC subway or walk

Ontario is home to a second venomous snake species you may not know about

There's a new worst road in Ontario but Toronto's nightmare street is still up there

People are complaining about another feature of Toronto's declining waterfront attraction

Canada Child Benefit increasing soon and you could get nearly $7,800 per kid

A Toronto park is about to be totally transformed and here's what it will look like

Toronto Shoppers Drug Mart slammed for overpriced emergency birth control