Gypsum Recycling Takes off in U.K.

Barred from storing it in inert landfills by EU legislation, manufacturers in the U.K. are working to recycle more of their gypsum, reports Materials Recycling Week.

When the new rules reclassifying gypsum take effect in July 2005, less than 50 of the 300 sites that currently handle the material will be qualified to do so. Cutting the number of sites will lead to a sharp increase in the cost of disposal, according to the story.

Enlisting the help of Canadian company New West Gypsum Recycling (NWGR), British plasterboard manufacturer Lafarge has been among the first companies to take steps toward meeting the new gypsum legislation in the U.K. Since recycling operations opened at its Bristol facility in April, Lafarge has recycled nearly 20,000 metric tons of material, says Materials Recycling Week.

Byron Harker, a consultant with NWGR, oversees the operations at Lafarge.

Harker tells Materials Recycling Week that there is strong interest from foreign companies seeking NWGR’s help in developing recycling programs.

“The U.S. has known for years that recycling would come into the industry. Europe has trailed so far, but the U.K. for once, is leading the field in Europe. It’s going to be the king of the world in terms of gypsum recycling,” Harker says.

The U.S. imported nearly 760,000 metric tons of the 2.1 million tons of gypsum used by domestic manufacturers in January 2004, according to a report in the May/June issue of Construction & Demolition Recycling. Some states are leading the way in encouraging companies to recycle their gypsum. To read more about Massachusetts’ efforts, click here.