The city greenery (parks) department (ZZM – Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej w Krakowie), are to trial spreading used coffee grounds, instead of salt and sand, on icy footpaths. The trial will take place in Park Lotników Polskich.

Inspired by similar trials in other cities, including Lviv, one of Kraków’s partner cities, ZZM have made an appeal to Kraków’s cafe’s to join the experiment and supply used coffee grounds.

“We ask all Krakow cafes, if they want to take part in this experiment, to contact us, via email or messenger ”  ZZM Kraków Facebook Appeal

No need to check your calendar, this is not an April Fool’s gag.

Potential benefits of using spent coffee grounds are listed, on the Green Projects Eko Blog Facebook page as:-

  • Recycling waste coffee grounds
  • Improving soil quality
  • Preventing salt injuries to animals paws
  • Coffee aroma invigorates walkers (no, I didn’t make this one up)

 

Concerns regarding the harm to dog’s paws by the use of salt on Kraków’s footpaths was also raised in a recent online question and answer session hosted by the President of Kraków, Jacek Majchrowski. 

Q: Harmful sprinkling of sidewalks with salt. Is it possible to stop this?

A: The City Green Board in the areas of parks and urban greenery banned the use of salt.  Any possible use of salt results in contractual penalties for executive companies that maintain parks. MPO uses salt only on the road and tries not to salt near greens and green areas.
The city today (9.2.21) released this video from a media briefing and demonstration.
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