New legislation in England, Wales & Northern Ireland secures fast growth for European plasterboard recycling system developed especially for the HWRC market. Kent, Cambridge, Essex and Leicestershire County Councils are already on board.

Gypsum Recycling UK Ltd is, the UK subsidiary of the Danish based Gypsum Recycling International Group which was the first company to offer plasterboard recycling in Europe, is rolling out an innovative plasterboard recycling and collection system for plasterboard waste to multiple HWRC’s presently.

The plasterboard collection and recycling system was developed by the group in 2001 and is now the biggest in the world, servicing more than 500 HWRC’s spread across Europe in countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Holland and Ireland. The recycling system generates a high quality gypsum raw material out of the plasterboard waste, which substitutes virgin gypsum raw materials in industrial production.

Following the EA’s changed policy in November with respect to plasterboard waste Gypsum Recycling UK has been working hard to stay ahead of the demand from the HWRCs that all wants to be ready for April 1, when the EA will start enforcement of the new rules.

Mark McGowan, the Sales Director of Gypsum Recycling UK explains: “The HWRC’s are looking for a total solution, where one company can handle everything from the supply of user friendly containers for the separation of the plasterboard waste transport and recycling, with a guarantee that the waste is recycled back into industrial production, not just disposed of without beneficial use., Gypsum Recycling UK are perfectly positioned to deliver this expectation”

The plasterboard collection and recycling system from Gypsum Recycling consists of containers, collection trucks and mobile recycling plants.

Mark McGowan adds: “Our containers are unique and especially built for being used at HWRC where the public are segregating the waste from other waste streams. Therefore the containers need to be easy to use, with our drop down front lids in front ensures exactly that, by allowing the users to throw in waste at a comfortable height”

The containers have top lids, which is being used when the plasterboard waste is collected. The collection system is based on the usage of a purpose built plasterboard waste grab truck that grabs out the plasterboard waste from the containers. Mark McGowan adds: “Our collection system significantly reduces one of the inherent problems of transporting plasterboard waste: It is bulky, but does not weigh a lot, making the transport cost per tonne of waste much more significant than for other waste streams”.

The grab truck overcomes this problem by grabbing the plasterboard waste out from the skips or containers instead of interchanging a full skip or container with an empty. This makes it possible for the grab truck to collect the waste from several skips and containers before it returns to the recycling facility, instead of having to return every single time a skip or container have been emptied.  

Using the special plasterboard waste grab truck Gypsum Recycling UK is capable of servicing customers within a 300 miles radius from its recycling facilities in Rochester, Kent, as the transport costs are kept down by the use of the special truck. Mark McGowan explains: “By using the milk-round approach and collecting from several sites before returning to the recycling facility we cut the transport cost and time down with more than 60%. Our collection system offers our customers the lowest carbon footprint in the industry”.

In fact plasterboard recycling is overall very beneficial for the climate. Studies sponsored by WRAP have shown that for each tonne of plasterboard waste recycled instead of being land-filled, the climate is saved from the emission of 0.2 tonnes of greenhouse gasses.

Gypsum Recycling UK’s recycling facility is presently located in Rochester, Kent, but a new facility will be opened in Barrington, Cambridge by June. The group also has a recycling facility in Dublin, Ireland and will also be opening a facility in Northern Ireland soon. At the recycling facilities a mobile and patented recycling unit converts the plasterboard waste into a gypsum raw material, by automatically removing the paper linen of the plasterboards as well as all contaminants like screws, nails, wood etc.,

Hereby a pure gypsum powder is created, which is 99% as good as virgin gypsum and can be used in the production of gypsum based products.

For more information on England & Wales telephone Mark McGowan on 07854233057 or visit www.gypsumrecycling.co.uk . For more information on Ireland & Northern Ireland telephone Derek Browne on +353 857866648 or visit www.gypsumrecyclingireland.com