Milwaukee considers using cheese brine on icy roads

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- City officials in Milwaukee said they are considering a plan to use cheese brine to defrost icy roads this winter instead of rock salt.

The Milwaukee Department of Public Works said using cheese brine, the salt and water mixture used to help cheese soak up salt, instead of rock salt could be a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to using rock salt, WITI-TV, Milwaukee, reported Thursday.

Officials in Polk County, Wis., said they have been using cheese brine since 2009 and they estimate it saved them $40,000 the first year.