Grit (salt) bins

In addition to Staffordshire’s extensive winter service operations grit/salt bins are provided at locations on the road network where additional treatment may be required.

Careful consideration is given to where the bins are placed and sites have been risk assessed against a set of criteria including but not limited to: proximity to high speed roads, traffic volumes, gradients and bends.

Their purpose is to improve road safety at identified areas of risk and the stocks will be depleted if used at other additional locations.

Please note: grit bins are for highways, not for people’s driveways.

How many grit bins are there throughout Staffordshire?

There are currently nearly 3,000 salt bins/piles located on the highway network, enabling communities to treat those roads where skidding vehicles could create a safety risk during times of severe weather.

How does salt work?

When salt is driven/walked over this creates a solution that lowers the freezing point of water. This is why treated motorways and other highways with high amounts of traffic will clear much more quickly than streets in residential areas where there is less traffic.

When are grit bins refilled?

All bins / piles provided by the county council will be fully stocked at the start of winter; and the majority of these grit bins / salt piles will be replenished as part of a routine programme throughout the season - depending on weather conditions and resource availability.

It is not possible to restock the bins on demand.

The bins at a number of lower-risk sites will only be filled at the beginning of the season. However, when using salt to treat the road, only small amounts are required and if spread sparingly and only during prolonged periods of adverse weather, the contents of the bin should last a typical winter.

A little amount goes a long way but its effectiveness is greatly increased on more frequently trafficked roads which aids the de-icing properties of the salt.

Where can I find my nearest grit bin?

Grit bin locations can be found on the gritting route map that also details which bins will only be filled at the beginning of the winter season.

Contact us

For advice on how communities could get involved in the provision and use of their own grit/de-icing salt supplies, please report your interest online. Go to Report It, then select 'weather related' and then 'other'.