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Plasterboard is one of the simplest building materials to recover, as long as it arrives clean and on its own.
Gypsum is calcium sulphate dihydrate. Heat it and most of the water leaves — that’s plaster. Add water and it sets hard again. The reaction runs both ways, which is why recovered gypsum can go round the loop over and over.
Ground back to powder, recovered gypsum can replace some of the quarried gypsum in new sheets. Gyprock HD, made in Australia, is formulated with 10% recycled content; in France, Placo is working towards up to 30% recycled material in its board.source
Gypsum is spread on farms to break up and improve heavy clay soils. Recycled plasterboard gypsum is already sold for this in Victoria and New South Wales.source
Gypsum is an ingredient in cement manufacture, and recovered plasterboard gypsum is accepted for concrete making.source
The paper liner is separated out during processing and can be recycled too.
Because gypsum and rotting waste don’t mix. Buried together, gypsum can produce hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas that smells of rotten eggs. European rules only let gypsum waste into landfill cells that take no biodegradable waste.source
And because it’s a waste of a resource. Every sheet buried is gypsum that has to be quarried again.
Tell us about your transfer station, depot or site and roughly how much board comes through. We’ll come back to you with a plan and a quote.