How to dispose of rock salt?

The article will shed light on ways to dispose of rock salt. Other details covered would include:

• How to dispose of rock salt?
• Can you dispose of rock salt in your garden?
• Does rock salt expire?
• What precautions need to be followed while disposing of rock salt?

How to dispose of rock salt?

The best way to dispose of rock salt is to reuse or repurpose it as salt does not have an expiration date (if kept properly). However, disposing of salt in trash cans will not do any great harm. 

The reuses include deicing, weed killer, donating rock salt, and repurposing rock salt to be used by other people. Further, rock salt should never be disposed of in soil or on plants as it can potentially kill plants and cause other numerous disadvantages. 

The article will discuss some of the ways through which rock salt may be kept for a long time without any effect on its odour and taste. Various precautions will be elucidated that must be kept in mind while disposing of rock salt. 

What ways can be adopted to dispose of rock salt?

Rock salt, also commonly known as table salt or Sodium Chloride, is considered to be every household necessity. Everyone has table salt as an integral part of their kitchens or dining tables. Therefore, an imperative question that must be addressed is what are the ways through which rock salt can be disposed of rightly. 

The question holds importance because of two major reasons: 

• Rock salt is extensively used by the majority of the people 
• The right disposal of rock salt can make it more eco-friendly 

Therefore, let us explore some eco-friendly ways to dispose of rock salt in a way that there is no harm caused to the environment whatsoever. 

Garbage cans

Many people wonder if it is okay to dispose of rock salt in regular trash cans. Yes, it is perfectly okay to dispose of rock salt in regular trash cans. 

However, despite being possible, it is not advised as such. The main reason behind is that there are a number of ways through which unwanted rock salt can be utilised better. Therefore, simply disposing of rock salt in trash cans will not do any good to the environment, if not any harm. 

Therefore, let us explore some of the ways in which rock salt can be used and utilised which will be considered better than simply throwing it away. 

Donating rock salt 

One of the options available is to donate rock salt to the poor and the needy. There is no harm attached to it because there is no expiry date of rock salt. 

As said, rock salt is a necessity for every household but not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to afford all the necessities. Therefore, by disposing of old rock salt, you will make sure that the rock salt is dealt with properly and in a noble way. 

Repurposing old rock salt 

Another way to deal with old rock salt is to repurpose it. This can be done by giving it to someone in the family or a household that does not need rock salt. 

The main reason why rock salt can be repurposed is that there is no expiration date to it. You can use and keep on using rock salt for a long time if you place and keep rock salt in appropriate conditions such as a cool, dry place while avoiding exposure to external anomalies. 

Weed killer 

Rock salt can also be used as a weed or plant killer. Although this is a negative trait of rock salt, it can also be used to our benefit. You can use unwanted rock salt to control plantations or limit the growth of unwanted herbs or shrubs. 

However, you need to be careful because careless or reckless use of rock salt may lead to unwanted damage to plants and associated life. 

Deicing 

Salts are extensively used for deicing applications by both professional organisations and personal people. Therefore, if you have any excess or unwanted rock salt, you may store it to be used in winter to deice your porch or gateway. 

Reusing rock salt

You may also store rock salt for your own purposes as well as there is no expiration date to rock salt. This means that table salt is good to be used regardless of how long it has been kept. You may even use rock salt to be used in the next season. 

It is because of the long life of rock salt that it can be used as a preservative as well. However, while using rock salt, you must ensure that there are certain precautions that you are mindful of. These include:

• Store rock salt in a cool place
• Store rock salt in a dry place
• Place rock salt in an appropriate container with good insulation, made from safe materials (like it should not be made from BPA plastic et cetera) 
• Store rock salt in a place free from any contamination, if in case of contamination, it is advisable to not use it 

Can you dispose of rock salt in your garden?

No, you must never dispose of rock salt in your garden because research has proven that rock salt may damage vegetation and plants to the extent that it can cause death. 

When salt is disposed of in the soil, it can soak up water which may deplete the amount of available water for the plants and may result in the wilting or dehydration of the plants. 

Also, when rock salt is disposed of in the soil, it has the potential to change its chemistry and biology. Soil quality may be altered which may lead to disturbed plant growth. Some of the other effects that are caused by dumping salt in the soil include: 

• Wilting 
• Delayed bud break 
• Discolouration 
• Nutrient deficiencies 
• Bud damage
• Premature fall colour 
• Browning 
• Altered bud growth 

Does rock salt expire?

No, rock salt does not expire. Pure salt will have an infinite shelf life because it does not contain any water and it is hygroscopic, which means that it attracts water from the surroundings. 

However, if salt is not stored properly, it will have an expiry date because it will soak water which may alter the taste and the odour of the salt. 

Therefore, you need to be mindful of certain conditions that are essential if you need to store salt for long term use. 

How to safely store rock salt?

• Do not store rock salt in cardboard containers as it will soak water through  the cardboard 
• Do not store rock salt in plastic containers as the constituents of plastics can leak the water contents into the salt 
• Salt must not be stored in metal containers as this will lead to metal corrosion which will also affect the salt 
• Salt must be placed in a cool and dry (with assertion) place as it is hygroscopic in nature 
• Salt must be kept in an airtight container 
• Salt can be kept in ceramic or clay containers if covered properly with a plastic lid and air-tight conditions are ensured 

What precautions need to be followed while disposing of rock salt? (3 precautions) 

Let us also discuss some of the precautions that need to be followed while disposing of rock salt in order to ensure that there is no harm posed to humans and the environment. The precautions include:

• It is better to not dispose of rock salt in trash cans as there are better ways to reuse and repurpose it 
• Rock salt must never be disposed of in soil or on plants as it can potentially kill plants and cause other numerous disadvantages
• While handling rock salt, it is better to wear gloves as exposure to rock salt might result in skin conditions such as redness, rash, irritation or itching. 

Conclusion 

It is concluded that the best way to dispose of rock salt is to reuse or repurpose it as salt does not have an expiration date (if kept properly). However, disposing of salt in trash cans will not do any great harm. 

The reuses include deicing, weed killer, donating rock salt, and repurposing rock salt to be used by other people. Further, rock salt should never be disposed of in soil or on plants as it can potentially kill plants and cause other numerous disadvantages. 

The article discussed some of the ways through which rock salt may be kept for a long time without any effect on its odour and taste. Lastly, various precautions were elucidated that must be kept in mind while disposing of rock salt. 

References

(February 10, 2020). When and how to store salt for the long term. Retrieved from: https://koyuncusalt.com/en/salt-library/why-and-how-to-store-salt-on-long-term

University of Massachusetts. The Impact of Salts on Plants and How to Reduce Plant Injury from Winter Salt Applications. Retrieved from: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/impact-of-salts-on-plants-how-to-reduce-plant-injury-from-winter-salt

Walsh, Kathryn. (July 17, 2021). How to dispose of rock salt? Retrieved from: https://www.hunker.com/13418923/how-to-dispose-of-rock-salt