GYPSUM DRYWALL - Success Story

An Ohio drywall manufacturer (Company A) began stockpiling drywall damaged in the manufacturing process and accepted as damaged returns. They experimented with a system for reprocessing this material to recover gypsum for re-use in the manufacturing process. Though the recovery was possible, the small percentage of gypsum that was obtained did not allow for keeping up with the incoming materials. In addition, the plant was notified that it was closing and the stockpiled material needed to be removed quickly.

In August, 2001, this manufacturer contacted OMEx for assistance in finding a reuse or recycling option for an estimated 25,000 tons of broken drywall material, OMEx put them in contact with another Ohio firm (Company B) that had experience with soil application of a variety of industrial products. Together, these companies walked through the Ohio EPA required land application testing and permitting process and the licensing process required by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Company A agreed to pay Company B to removed the material from their site at a cost that Company A estimates saved them approximately $275,000 over their best offer for disposal.

Farmers purchased the drywall from Company B, saving between $10.00 and $14.00 per ton over their usual cost for gypsum additives. Sold only in truckload quantities, farmers purchased as few as 200 tons to as much as 8,000 tons per site.

By the end of November 2001, 16,000 tons of the material had been delivered to 25 farms located throughout Ohio. Weather permitting, this project was expected to be completed year's end.

If you are interested in more information on this project or if you desire assistance with your own specific material concerns, please contact OMEx technical assistant, Steve Shew at 888/718-OMEx (6639), ext. 7661.

Click here to view other OMEx success stories.

Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
Phone (614) 644-3469
Fax (614) 644-2807
Toll Free (800) 329-7518
E-Mail: p2mail@epa.state.oh.us