Gypsum Recycling

Summary

Gypsum is a common white or colourless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters. A recycling programme established in Humberside , UK, developed a specialised process and equipment which enabled the complete recycling of gypsum. This self-funded research and development programme has produced a state of the art facility that produces products from the 100% recovered plaster and gypsum to be used in the construction industry. The plant can accept both new and used plasterboard from demolition operations and gypsum as a by-product from manufacturing processes. In 2005 new environmental legislation in the UK required that gypsum be separated into confinement cells when sent to landfill, hence creating new incentive for recycling.

Industry

Industry Sector	Specific Industry
Recycling sector	Gypsum recycling plant
Manufacturing sector	Various
Building & construction sector	Building/demolition companies

Region

Humberside, United Kingdom.

Applied Technologies

• Not known

Triple Bottom Line Aspects (direct at operational level)

Economic	Potential savings in waste disposal costs for companies Potential lower cost of gypsum
Environment	Landfill diversion of gypsum Avoided impacts associated with the extraction of gypsum from quarries
Social	Job security and employment

Additional Comments

None.

References

• NISP (2006) "National Industrial Symbiosis Program - Gypsum Recycling", Retrieved from: http://www.international-synergies.com/_layouts/Downloads/gypsum_recycling_jan2006.pdf

Last Update

18 January 2007