Managing Drywall Waste

Drywall, also known as gypsum board, is a common material used in construction and renovation projects since it was first invented in 1916. It consists of a layer of gypsum plaster sandwiched between two sheets of paper. Drywall is easy to install, fire-resistant, and versatile; however, it also generates a lot of waste when it is removed or demolished.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2016, the construction, renovation, and demolition sector generated 9.0 million tonnes of waste in Canada, of which 8.7% was gypsum. This means that about 783,000 tonnes of gypsum waste was produced in that year alone. ?This waste has typically been disposed of in landfills.? The calcium and sulphur in the (calcium sulfate based) drywall are nutrients that, properly distributed to soil, can improve soil structure, aeration, permeability, drainage, and water retention without affecting soil pH. ?Calcium sulfate can also reduce soil compaction in clay soils, prevent surface crusting and help prevent some plant diseases.? However, historical landfill practice has been to aggregate the waste drywall into one area of the landfill where it can produce sulfuric acid and aggressive leaching of contaminants.? It’s bad reputation is largely due to mismanagement by governments responsible for landfill planning regulations and operation, and the lack of a societal focus on improved recycling. ?

Recycling drywall helps to prevent depletion of gypsum stocks and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Recycled drywall can be used to make new drywall products or other applications such as composting or soil amendment. However, recycling drywall also faces a major challenge due to the potential for asbestos contamination.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance that can cause serious health problems when inhaled. Asbestos was commonly used in drywall joint compound and other finishing products until it was banned in Canada in 1982. Therefore, any drywall installed before 1982 could contain asbestos and should be handled with caution.

The government has not established clear and consistent methods of safe management of old drywall from demolition, especially when it comes to asbestos contamination. Different jurisdictions have different policies and regulations for disposing of or recycling drywall, depending on the source and condition of the material. However, these policies and regulations are often inadequate, impractical, or ineffective in ensuring that asbestos is not being released to the environment.

For example, the City of Vancouver requires testing and certification of drywall before accepting it for recycling or disposal at its facilities. However, this requirement does not apply to used drywall from contractors and businesses, which is not accepted at all. This means that contractors and businesses must find other ways to dispose of or recycle their old drywall, with or without the potential to contain asbestos.

Finding alternative ways to dispose of or recycle old drywall from building demolition is not easy or inexpensive. Taking samples for testing is unlikely to be representative of all of the drywall affected by a large building demolition project that may have been subject to many renovations, some with and without asbestos impacted drywall. Further, methodocally removing the affected drywall tape and filler by hand is impractical, as a great deal of the potentially affected filler is beneath (likely) many coats of paint.? The attempt will likely release asbestos and prove to be a health hazard to any workers involved and no amount of testing during that process can guarantee all of the drywall is free of asbestos

Moreover, the City of Vancouver, and Metro Vancouver’s policy requiring homeowners to break up such material and double-bag it in (maximum) 10 kg portions unnecessarily exposes the homeowners to any asbestos that may be present as a result of having to handle and break-up the drywall and/or cut it into small enough pieces for bagging. This policy also discourages homeowners from recycling their old drywall, as they may find it easier or cheaper to dispose of it as garbage.

The Capital Regional District also requires testing and certification of drywall before accepting it for recycling at its facilities. However, if the testing indicates that it does contain asbestos, it is accepted at the regional Hartland Depot as a controlled waste, by appointment only. This means that homeowners and contractors who have asbestos-containing drywall must make an appointment with the Hartland Depot and pay a fee for disposing of their waste. This may also discourage them from recycling their old drywall, as they may find it more convenient or economical to dispose of it elsewhere.

Therefore, while recycling drywall can have many benefits for the environment and the economy, it also faces a major challenge due to the potential for asbestos contamination. The government has not established clear and consistent methods of safe management of old drywall from demolition, especially when it comes to asbestos contamination. Different jurisdictions have different policies and regulations for disposing of or recycling drywall, depending on the source and condition of the material. However, these policies and regulations are often inadequate, impractical, or ineffective in ensuring that asbestos is not being released to the environment.

Because of the ubiquitous nature of urban demolition involving drywall, It's time the provincial government established a sustainable program to manage and recycle drywall in a consistent manner throughought the province.? Programs should be established to encourage and facilitate the recycling of old drywall by creating incentives and opportunities for homeowners and contractors to recycle their old drywall, taking reasonable measures to minimize the risks associated with potential asbestos contamination.