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Effective non-saline de-ice options are available quite widely these days, so you may find a viable solution is easier than you thought. Natural de-icers can be just as effective—or even more effective—as traditional salts when it comes to melting snow and ice. Look for products that are certified “pet safe” or “garden safe," like Safe Paw.
Buy it now: Safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter, $20, Amazon.com
Need to stay warm with a fire this winter? Watch to learn how to chop wood like a champ:

This easy-to-make solution contains only three ingredients: water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap. (Find the recipe here.) Safe for your pets and boots, light on the wallet, this is a great option for a simple de-icer you can make yourself with ingredients you may already have on hand.
Related: How To Make Your Own Natural Dish Washing Detergent

Effective against snow and ice, sugar beet juice is gaining favor in some of the snowiest places in North America as an alternative to salt. It’s a huge money-saver for such places as Ontario, where some communities have decreased road salt use by as much as 30%, making up the difference with beet juice. Toronto and Montreal have both experimented with beet juice de-icer, and while some may be put off by the molasses-like smell, it is irrefutably better for the environment, and far cheaper than road salt.
If you have enough beets you can simply make your beet juice de-icer in your juicer (or stock up on beet juice beforehand) and try it out on your sidewalks.
Related: How (And Why) To Grow And Eat More Beets

Brines, including beet-based, cheese-based, and pickle-based, work by lowering the freezing temperature of water, meaning that water stays liquid at colder temperatures than it would untreated. Brine is even better than road salts in this task. Brine solutions are being used across Canada and the northern United States as communities seek cheaper, safer, more effective alternatives to road salt. In Wisconsin, cheese brine has been used to such great effect that some counties have replaced up to 40% of their road salts with the solution. You can use brine at home—just save your pickle and preserve brines and spray them over frozen surfaces. Here's more on how to make them a brine solution to melt ice.
Related: 3 Easy Homemade Pickle Recipes You Can Make In 2 Minutes

Keep your spent coffee grounds this winter for a great alternative to traditional de-icer! Coffee grounds work in two ways: the acidity in the grounds accelerates the melting process, while the course texture provides traction. If you were going to toss them anyway, here’s a better use for your grounds! If you’re not a coffee drinker, visit your local coffee shop. Some cafes—including some large chains—will save bags of spent grounds for anyone who wants them for gardening and other purposes.
Related: 23 Buzz-Worthy Gifts For People Who Are Obsessed With Coffee

These work strictly by improving traction on a slippery surface, and can be used in conjunction with other formulas if a melting solution is necessary. If you’ve got a cat and he doesn’t mind sharing, cat litter is an easy way to make your sidewalks a little safer this winter, and the same goes for sand.
Related: My Pet Almost Died Because I Didn't Know About This Deadly Danger To Cats