Why Recycle Plasterboard?

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 When gypsum-based plasterboard is landfilled with biodegradable waste, it can break down and release toxic hydrogen sulphide gas, which is both hazardous and environmentally damaging. UK regulations therefore prohibit mixing plasterboard with general waste, disposal in standard landfill cells is banned altogether due to risks of air and groundwater pollution. Beyond safety concerns, recycling plasterboard helps conserve natural gypsum resources and reduces the need for new extraction, supporting a more circular and efficient construction sector. With the UK construction industry generating large volumes of plasterboard waste each year, recycling also prevents unnecessary use of limited landfill space while lowering carbon emissions associated with manufacturing from virgin materials. 

A plasterboard recycling facility receives waste plasterboard, separates the gypsum core from paper and impurities and processes the recovered gypsum into a clean, consistent powder suitable for reuse. To ensure the recycled material can legally achieve non-waste status, facilities must follow strict quality and process controls in line with BSI PAS 109, which defines requirements for storage, handling, input material selection, processing, testing, and product verification. These standards ensure that recycled gypsum meets the purity, particle size, and contamination limits required for safe use in products such as new plasterboard or cement. Facilities operating under the Recycled Gypsum Quality Protocol must also keep detailed inspection and testing records to demonstrate full compliance with PAS 109 throughout production, ensuring the output is a high‑quality, reliable secondary raw material

By turning waste plasterboard into a high‑quality secondary raw material, manufacturers reduce their reliance on mined gypsum, lowering material costs and exposure to supply‑chain volatility. Recycled gypsum that meets PAS 109 and the Quality Protocol becomes a recognised product, enabling manufacturers to safely incorporate it back into plasterboard or cement production, improving resource efficiency and supporting circular‑economy targets. For construction and demolition firms, compliant recycling also reduces the risk of fines or legal non‑compliance associated with incorrect waste handling, protecting commercial reputation and ensuring smooth site operations under strict UK waste regulations.