Free 1 ton Salt Bags

Aberdeen City Council's winter community self-help scheme provides one-tonne bags of salt to local residents and community groups. 

In severe weather conditions some lower priority roads, streets and footpaths may not receive treatment for many days due to multiple treatments required on higher priority roads and pavements. The scheme will allow you to treat your street and surrounding footpaths when the council staff are unable to.

Applications for 2022/23 one-tonne salt bags are now open until 31 October.

You can fill out an application form by clicking here.

The one-tonne community salt bags, like the salt provided in grit bins, are only for use on public areas.

What is required to receive a one-tonne salt bag?

You are required to have:

• A named individual to take responsibility for the bag. Contact details for this person are required (an email address or phone number). 
• A secure location on your property, such as a driveway or other hard surface, to store the bag (1.5 metres of space is needed, ideally within 5 metres of the road).
• Access for the delivery lorry (a minimum of 3 metres wide with a suitable surface that will take the weight of the lorry).
• Permission from the landowner (if that is not you) for the salt bag to be stored on their land.

Before the bag is delivered the drop off location and the storage space need to be checked athat they are suitable. Salt bags cannot be dropped off on footpaths, roads, car parks or grassy areas. Once checked, the Council will be in touch to confirm your application and advise when your salt bag will be delivered.

Sometimes the salt mixture can affect grass or vegetation that the bag is stored on or near. The Council are unable to accept responsibility for any damage that does occur, so the named individual must accept responsibility for this. 

How to use the salt bag 

• The salt will be easier to use if you cover it with a polythene sheet.
• You can decant the salt into smaller containers for indoor storage or for sharing with your neighbours.
• A little salt goes a long way. A 10 litre household bucket will hold the same amount of salt that a gritter uses to treat a third of the footpaths of Union Street.
• Treating the area before bad weather comes can be very effective in preventing snow lying and ice forming.

Refilling

If your salt bag needs to be refilled, please email the Council on winter@aberdeencity.gov.uk to arrange this. The empty salt bags will be removed at the end of the winter season. Once your contact details are on record, the Council will ask whether you would like to participate in the scheme in future years. 

Salt and grit are also available from community salt bins and street grit bins.