(Radio Iowa) – At the peak of road repair season, a central Iowa city is now recycling concrete, soil and asphalt to patch up roads and alleys to save money. Jim Scott, operations manager for Des Moines’ Public Works Streets Division, says recycled concrete is turned into a sub-base that meets state regulations. It serves as a foundation underneath the top layer of concrete for road repairs.
Scott says before the city started recycling materials from old sidewalks and roads, it would all go to the landfill.
Scott says the program is environmentally- and fiscally-responsible. City officials estimate the program will save about 415-thousand dollars a year on materials and landfill fees. It comes as Iowa’s largest city is dealing with an expected 12-million-dollar budget shortfall next fiscal year.
