MUNCIE, Ind. – A large concrete recycling project  is attracting the attention of building officials at colleges and universities throughout the state.

More than 3,000 tons of concrete, enough to make a rock pile 25-feet high and 50-feet in diameter, has been recycled from the renovation of a 35-year-old Ball State University residence hall.

Mike Planton, Ball State superintendent of grounds, said the university saved an estimated $50,000-60,000 by grinding up and reusing 3,256 tons of concrete in the last 18 months. Some of the stone was recently used in the construction of a new parking lot at the Ball State baseball field.

"Most of the savings comes from landfill costs," said Planton. "The rest is saved from purchasing material for new parking lots and sidewalks. I figure we have an 8-year supply of stone on hand."

During the summer, a contractor was brought in to grind up large pieces of concrete taken from Studebaker West and other renovation projects. The slabs were reduced to stone of varying size after all metal pieces had been removed. Finally, the pieces were crushed into pavement by a steamroller.

The metal removed from the concrete also was sold to a scrap metal dealer, melted down and resold for various industrial uses.

A member of the College and University Recycling Council, Ball State also recycles drywall, wood, metals, brick and other materials from campus renovation projects.

By Kortney Reinitz, Graduate Assistant

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Planton by e-mail at mplanton@bsu.edu or (765) 285-5092.)