Plasterboard is a popular construction material that used to be particularly popular for the making of ceilings and walls a few years ago. Builders used to love it because it can improve a building’s insulation. Plus, it is not particularly expensive. Today, things have greatly changed and plasterboard is no longer considered to be a good building material because:
- It is classified as a hazardous material
- Cannot be disposed of without special assistance
- It no longer as budget-friendly as it used to be
- Poor handling of plasterboard can lead to steep fines
That is namely why one needs to be quite careful when they want to get rid of old plasterboards. If you are in a similar situation, you can use local rubbish removal services in Putney SW15 or ask your council for assistance.
Why plasterboards are now viewed as hazardous materials
It would be wrong to say that plasterboards fall into the category of hazardous waste. The problem with them is that are partly made of gypsum. That is a type of soft sulphate mineral which can decompose naturally which is good. However, when it starts to biodegrade, it produces dangerous gasses which is not good. That is a relatively new finding. Therefore, until recently sheetrock materials were simply chucked at random landfills without much consideration about the risks they pose to the environment or people’s health for that matter. About a decade ago, the Environment Agency started to urge individuals and businesses to dispose of plasterboards separately.
What’s the proper way to get rid of plasterboard waste?
The answer to that question greatly depends on the amount of drywall material you need to throw away. Individuals who only want to throw away a few pieces of sheetrock can feel free to take them to a licensed waste management centre in their area. If you are a company that needs to dispose of a large number of plasterboards, you need to transport them to the nearest plasterboard recycling centre. Yes, you read that right! There are special recycling facilities in the UK that deal specifically with this type of waste.
The easiest and quickest way to tackle this task, however, would be to rely on inexpensive plasterboard collection in London. Leading rubbish removal companies in the English capital, among which is also Junk Removals London, are licensed and equipped to collect and dispose of gypsum-based waste materials such as plasterboards. They will come to your address and load your old drywalls onto their professional rubbish trucks and then they will take their time to prepare them for recycling.
Facts about gypsum and recycling
Gypsum is one of the most recycling-friendly materials out there. Much like aluminium, it can be recycled numerous times. Still, this process will not be successful if nails and other nuts and bolts are not removed from the plasterboard. Once recycled, gypsum can come back as animal bedding, cement, fertilizer, tiles or simply brand-new plasterboard.
So, the next time you are renovating your home or office, do not overlook the importance of the proper disposal of old plasterboard.
