After winter storms, parking lots can turn into a real mess. The snow removal cost parking lot can vary depending on the size and complexity of the lot. Factors such as the amount of snowfall, the equipment required, and the duration of the service will all contribute to the overall cost.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do before, during, and after a storm to clean up your parking lot. Here are some tips that can help you keep your parking lot snow free in no time.
The Process Of Snow Removal From Parking Lots
First, the parking lot operator will remove the snow from the area that has been cleared. This is done with a truck-mounted snow plow or other equipment. They’ll also scrape up any ice that may have accumulated on the ground.
The next step is to clear out any remaining snow from your car’s path. This can be done with a plow mounted at an angle, or in some cases by hand.
Finally, all of this cleared snow will be scraped back into the street and piled up alongside it.
Where Does The Snow Go?
The snow gets thrown into a landfill. The reason is that most cities don’t have a recycling program for the snow. Snow is considered garbage and goes to a landfill.
Most towns do not have a facility or equipment to remove the water from the snow and turn it into something useful. Even if they did, there wouldn’t be enough snow to make any significant amount of money from selling it as an ice melt or road salt substitute.
Managing Snow Removal For Sustainability
Snow removal is expensive, and it’s an energy-intensive process. Snowplows throw out tons of sand and salt on the roads, which can end up in the water supply. Plus, snowplows are noisy, polluting the air with diesel fumes.
Managing snow removal for sustainability means minimizing both costs and pollution from a parking lot’s snow hauling process. The key to doing so is managing roadsides so that they don’t get too high and cause runoff into storm drains or other sewer systems.
Conclusion
While snow hauling is generally necessary to clear away the snow that’s fallen in parking lots, their presence can also spread dust and debris over the parking lot. Studies have concluded that this debris has aesthetic effects on the surrounding area as well—when plowed snow hits the ground, it scatters and drifts around, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk safely in the area.
In short: a small amount of snow plowed can lead to a messier parking lot, which might impact the aesthetics of the surrounding area.
