Research shows that over three million tonnes of plasterboard are used annually by construction companies in the UK. Plasterboard is a flexible building material. Multiple layers make up the plasterboard.

Gypsum is found in the inner layer, which is surrounded by lining paper on all sides. Gypsum can produce poisonous and pungent hydrogen sulphide gas when disposed of with biodegradable garbage.

Plasterboard is not a hazardous waste according to the Environmental Agency (EA) of the UK, however improper disposal can result in issues.

Plasterboard cannot go to landfills

Plasterboard cannot be combined or added with other rubbish. This means that this kind of waste cannot be dumped in landfills.

Plasterboard can be collected by a skip rental business; however, it cannot be bagged or stored in a small skip. However, be sure you work with a business that stores the material in a skip specifically for plasterboards.

How to Dispose of Plasterboard?

Plasterboard is not permitted in skips with general garbage. The Environmental Agency advises people to segregate plasterboard and gypsum from other garbage they gather. Maintaining the plasterboard’s separation is crucial.

Plasterboard cannot be disposed of in your kerbside trash cans. Plasterboard can emit toxic gas when disposed of with biodegradable debris since it includes gypsum.

According to UK law, plasterboard must be disposed of separately. It needs to be dried out and cleared of any tiles, wood, or other debris.

Recycling Centre

Find out if your neighbourhood council picks up plasterboards and how to recycle debris that contains gypsum. Call the neighbourhood council to inquire about the process with the staff. Find recycling or disposal facilities in your neighbourhood that accept plasterboards.

In the UK, most regional authorities and recycling facilities recycle gypsum into plasterboard. As a soil conditioners, these facilities make use of reclaimed gypsum. Gypsum reduces soil salinity by replacing sodium in the soil. Without raising the PH of the soil, it also offers a supply of calcium and sulphur.

Make sure to take off the nails and wood trim before transporting the plasterboard to a recycling facility. Because lead is a dangerous substance, the recycling centre might not accept plasterboard that has been painted with lead-based paint.

Reuse or Donate Plasterboard

The Environmental Agency states that preventing trash in the first place is the best plasterboard disposal strategy for homes and building businesses. Order sheets that are the proper size for the space you are plasterboarding. Before covering the wall cavities, utilise the spare pieces of plasterboard there.

Experts also advise keeping the plasterboard for use in future construction projects. Plasterboards can also be donated to another building construction project or offered for free online as salvage. Additionally, you may fertilise your grass or garden with the leftover plasterboard.

It may also be included in your compost. Your compost bin gains a variety of nutrients from crushed gypsum.

Conclusion

Plasterboard disposal is significantly different from other waste materials that call for relatively simple disposal techniques. You cannot put it in the skip with other biodegradable materials or discard it in the trash can with other waste. You can bring it to the recycling facility that accepts plasterboards, give it online, or use it again for another building or repair project.

FAQ

1. Is plasterboard considered hazardous waste?

Plasterboard is in fact a non-hazardous waste category. Plasterboard, however, is prohibited from being disposed of in landfills in the UK even though it is not hazardous waste. This is due to the fact that when it gets wet or combines with biodegradables like food waste, the gypsum it contains may produce hazardous hydrogen sulphide.

2. Are there any alternatives to plasterboard?

Wooden planks and Exposed concrete or brick are some of the alternatives to plasterboard. You may use this for your future construction projects.

3. Is Plasterboard Biodegradable?

Plasterboard and other gypsum-containing products cannot biodegrade. They also cannot be disposed of with other household garbage in landfills to disintegrate. The gas that is generated when the chemical reaction is begun is extremely hazardous to the soil bacteria and other microbes.

4. Where can you recycle or get rid of plasterboard for free?

Plasterboard may typically be disposed of for free at your neighbourhood household items recycling and garbage centre. Though not all do, double-check in advance to be sure they accept plasterboard for dumping and recycling. The majority of facilities will accept your material for free, however, some businesses could be asked to make nominal cash for the disposal.