Recycling of plasterboard

Recycling of plasterboard – the myths

Until 2001 the general belief was that recycling of plasterboard could only happen in areas where the local authorities would ban disposal of plasterboard waste at the landfills. In other words, that recycling of plasterboard could only be “forced” through by legislation, and not occur as a consequence of voluntary and profitable actions of the parties involved.

Another important myth was that only new construction waste should be recycled as it would be too difficult to segregate and afterwards reprocess old waste from demolitions and rebuilds.

Thirdly it was believed that plasterboard plants could only use a very limited amount of reprocessed waste in their production due to the expected lower quality, and as a consequence superior recycling technology was thought to be the key to success in the recycling of plasterboard.

Fourthly it was believed that the only places where recycling of plasterboard could happen was in areas close to where the receiving facility with the reprocessing equipment was located, and consequently the system would only have limited reach – generally maximum 200 km from where the receiving facility was located.

Fifthly it was believed that recycling of plasterboard could only occur if the plasterboard plants themselves would incur the cost and the investment of setting up the system, and finally that it was critical to make equipment capable of handling wet plasterboard waste, as the waste inevitably at some point would get wet.

Recycling of plasterboard – myths and facts

With all these myths it is no wonder that prior to 2001 recycling of plasterboard did not take place in many places, including in Europe where it did not happen at all.

However, Gypsum Recycling International has made it possible to overcome all of the above mentioned obstacles without the industry having to make expensive investments to become involved in the recycling of plasterboard.

The plasterboard waste is collected in special containers from Gypsum Recycling International that prevent the plasterboard waste from getting wet and thereby eliminating the need for special equipment capable of handling wet plasterboard waste. With our specially developed mobile recycling units, the recycling of plasterboard will happen close to the receiver of the recycled materials, which keeps transportation costs at a minimum. The unit is driven by its own diesel generator and can be dismantled and set up in only a few hours. One unit therefore has a reach far wider than 200 km.

The recycling unit has been developed to accept all kinds of gypsum waste for plasterboard recycling and will process waste that is not clean or pure in its form. The recycling unit then converts the plasterboard waste into recycled gypsum powder which is 99% as good as virgin gypsum raw materials.

With all the above mentioned myths no longer valid, there is now no reason not to become engaged in the recycling of plasterboard.

Recycling of plasterboard – the myths

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