Gypsum is backed with paper and used for drywall in walls.
Gypsum, the common name for calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4Â-2H2O), is "a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from dried ancient sea beds," as the State of Michigan explains. Like all natural resources, gypsum is limited. Gypsum is also 100-percent recyclable.
History
The major use for gypsum is drywall--sometimes called sheetrock or wallboard, among other names. The main wall covering in the United States alone, more than 15 million tons is produced in the US each year--about the same amount wasted each year world-wide. In the last 10 years, recycling of gypsum--in the form of drywall--has become a rising concern. Many states and countries are even banning drywall from landfills.
Process
Most drywall waste comes from construction, followed by home demolition and finally, manufacturing and home remodeling. According to The National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHBRC), the scrap waste from each new house is comprised of about 26-percent drywall--approximately 1.5 tons for a 2,000 square-foot home. Recyclers can take this waste, remove any contaminants, separate the gypsum from the paper backing, and it can then be reused for other products.
Uses
Drywall manufacturers can produce drywall using 25 percent or more recycled gypsum. Gypsum can also be used as a compost material, or a fertilizer producing sulfur and calcium. Growing mushrooms, creating lawns or golf greens, or even manufacturing of Portland cement can use recycled gypsum.
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