Molasses May Replace Salt to De-Ice Roads

Rock salt is the most common form of de-icing streets during the snowy winter months, but many suburbs, including nearby Wauconda, are considering using alternatives, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

The village of Wauconda is considering using molasses, which would save them 10 percent in costs. Molasses has similar components to beet juice, which is another common ice-buster, although molasses has less pulp, the Tribune reports. 

The village of Niles has been using a beet juice mixture to combat ice since 2011 for both cost effectiveness and environmental reasons.