Can You Put Drywall In The Recycle Bin?
It’s always a good idea to get rid of any leftover drywall unless you are able to repurpose or recycle it. Garbage haulers will remove it for you if it’s already broken and bagged up. If you would rather keep some of it, make sure it’s stored in a dry space. Keep in mind that drywall (besides the special type that is mold-resistant) is a good environment for the growth of mold and mildew.
Drywall is a good addition to compost, especially for reclaimed land sites since it is biodegradable and rich in nutrients. Used drywall can make the soil alive again according to researchers. In areas such as landfills or underground places where oxygen is depleted, the calcium sulfate (gypsum) usually found in drywall can easily decompose to release hydrogen sulfide (a noxious gas)
Recycling Drywall
Drywall is made up of gypsum (calcium sulfate) as well as water usually spread on paper backing and sheets fired in a kiln. Calcium sulfate is a naturally occurring mineral that is very beneficial for your garden or lawn. It can also be reclaimed. Note that, some of the drywall sheets you purchase may be sourced from recycled drywall.
Reusing Large Scraps Of Drywall
Even after carefully measuring your drywall space, it’s a huge likelihood that there may be some excess drywall left. Rather than disposing of it, you can repurpose it using the following valuable tips.
1. Save It For Repairs – Do you have a large storage room? Well, some leftover drywall will come in handy if you need any drywall patchwork for smaller jobs. Make sure you store the drywall in a dry area to avoid the growth of mold and mildew.
2. Share It – Do you know any local contractors or DIY enthusiasts who are looking for extra pieces of drywall? Well, you can always sell your extra drywall to them. Additionally, you can always give it to them for free. You can try selling it online on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and eBay for the best prices.
3. Use It As Fertilizer – As previously mentioned, drywall is made up of 90% gypsum which is beneficial to your soil. Besides limestone, gypsum is also a key ingredient in fertilizer that reduces your soil’s PH levels. It also helps improve the workability of your soil. If you want to use excess drywall as fertilizer start by peeling off the paper backing then grind it into a powder. Next, you can spread it on your garden or lawn for the best results.
4. Add It To Compost – After crushing gypsum, you can add it to your compost. It provides a lot of nutrients for your compost bin. Note that, drywall can be quite pungent when decomposing.
5. Be Creative – Do you love art? Do you fancy yourself an artist? Well, you can use small squares of the drywall as a canvas. It is mostly used for test projects or amateur art. However, the paper backing offers a flat and nice surface that picks up the paint properly.
How Can You Recycle Drywall?
Most drywall recycling companies have a separate dumpster for drywall only. Additionally, others will provide locations where you can drop off the drywall after remodels. Next, the drywall will be broken up into smaller bits using grinders. Magnets are used to pull out nails, screws and corner beads. The drywall is then filtered and the paper from the faces will be screened and sent to various paper recycling companies. Recycled drywall is used to make recycled paper and on the paper faces of new drywall.
Most of these recycling companies state that they can put out at least 99% of pure gypsum. The powdery product will be baked again, mixed with water and poured between 2 sheets of recycled paper. It is now finally ready to be installed in another property. As previously mentioned, it can also be used as a fertilizer.
This is because gypsum is a soluble source that contains essential nutrients such as sulfur and calcium known to improve plant growth. Gypsum has been used as fertilizer for hundreds of years and can be traced as far back as the 1700s. It is an effective way of breaking clay to make the soil breathable allowing you to grow plants effectively. Note that, in landfills, compacted clay is used to contain the liquid.
Repurposing It
After peeling off the paper, you can repurpose drywall effortlessly. Start peeling off the paper by pulling from one corner. It will peel off very fast. Next, you can crush the gypsum into powder form and spread it on your lawn or garden. Note that, gypsum is a great way to improve the soil structure in your garden thereby reducing erosion.
Composting It
Remove the paper backing from the drywall then crush the drywall before adding it to your compost bin. Note that, gypsum is quite pungent when decomposing.
Save It
Do you love DIY projects? Well, you can always use a few scraps of drywall for any repairs in your home. If you have a small fix, you don’t necessarily have to buy new drywall. Rather, the old drywall will come in handy. If you are creative, you must know that the paper backing on the drywall always takes paint well. Use the drywall as a canvas for your artwork.
Note that, unless you are planning to repurpose or recycle leftover drywall, it’s always a good idea to get rid of it. Your chosen garbage haulers will help you get rid of it if you have completely broken it down and bagged it up properly. However, if you choose to store the drywall, make sure you do so in a dry area. This is because drywall is the perfect environment for the growth of mold and mildew.
Some of the ways in which recycled drywall can be used include the following.
• During the manufacturing process of new drywall
• As part of the ingredients used to make fertilizer
• As an additive in compost
• As part of the elements during the production of cement
Final Thoughts
The best thing to do is to avoid excessive waste of drywall in the first place. When buying it, you can always choose from the different sizes available. Measure the space you are working on before ordering drywall. You can buy smaller cut pieces rather than the entire piece of drywall. Additionally, you can reach out to any DIY enthusiasts or local contractors near you to find out if they have any leftover drywall they are willing to sell or share.
Contact Golden State Drywall Repair Service, Oakland, CA for expert drywall repair service at (510) 250-5447. Call today and get your free estimation!
