Area county using power plant waste to fill potholes

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- One public entity's waste can be another's road material.

During their regular meeting Thursday, Mississippi County commissioners said the county road and bridge department has found a new filler for temporarily fixing potholes: slag from the Sikeston Power Plant.

"We got three or four loads of it for free," Presiding Commissioner Carlin Bennett said. "Turns out, it's really good stuff for fixing potholes."

Bennett said he recently went with Richard Wallace, county road and bridge superintendent, to see the slag put to use in potholes on Millar Road filled with the slag.

The slag is a byproduct of the coal-burning power plant, he said: "They've got it refined now so it's like sand."

Bennett said he thinks it will prove to be of use in several other ways in addition to filling potholes.

"I think it would be great for treating ice and snow," he said.

Bennett said the slag may also be good for building up a foundation under a road.

"And the price is right," he said.

Pertinent address:

Charleston, MO