Sheetrock recycling

Rachael:
First, I would make certain that you are interpreting the TCEQ regulation properly. My next question would be “what would it take to meet the new air quality regulations?” If the current recycling equipment and/or processes do not meet the required emissions levels or rates then perhaps that is the first source needing industry modification to reach compliance.

Work with TCEQ towards a solution. TCEQ is the agency who estimated in 2008 that Texas had only 31.6 years remaining until capacity was reached at its landfills. There are many stakeholders here that have a common interest in keeping the gyp board out of the landfills.

Check with specific municipalities as to how they are handling the regulations. Dallas for instance has a construction waste recycling initiative called SEE Less Trash that would be greatly impacted, in addition to their LEED initiative. Taking an advocacy role may not get you immediate results, but will help solve this in the long term. Check with Austin for their take on this as they have a long history of green construction policy.

Approach the Gypsum Association for advocacy towards an industry-wide solution. They may not be aware that this has arisen as an obstacle for their members.

Contact the big manufacturers of gypsum wall board specifically to see what they can offer in the way of solutions. Perhaps they would initiate a take-back program in the interim. Or get involved to help upgrade recycling equipment to meet the regulations.

Consider submitting a CIR to GBCI on your hazardous waste question though I am doubtful that it would qualify in this category.

Finding an alternate to gypsum wallboard is possible, but probably not as economical.

LEED-NC and CS projects probably won’t find meeting MRc2 quite as great a hardship as CI projects, simply due to the higher proportion of weight drywall contributes to the waste stream for a fit-out. Collaborate with your contractor along with the drywall subcontractor to plan for minimizing waste. Create an incentive and make it a challenge to see just how little gyp waste they can generate.

Just thinking outside of the box here. I have heard of projects filling interior stud cavities with drywall scraps. Though unconventional, it would divert the material from landfill and actually bolster the acoustic performance of the assemblies (by adding mass). You would need to confirm that this does not compromise required fire rating of partitions and that the building official is on-board with the approach. Your contractor might have some feedback about the potential labor implications.

Rachel- are you interpreting this ruling as a measure that applies to all sheetrock or just those containing fiber? Can you cite the ruling, please? I have not witnessed any changes to sheetrock recycling, and none of our receivers or suppliers have commented. We have reached out to TCEQ and several waste management companies in our area, but feedback may take a day or so. Would love some more information from you as soon as you can. This took many of us by surprise!

Hi Rachel - this took us by surprise as well. We spoke to Shannon Herriott with TCEQ, and she stated that there is not actually a ban on recycling drywall in Texas.

She thinks what may have caused the confusion is that sheetrock (drywall) is specifically excluded from the definition of “clean wood material” for wood composting. So, companies who have a permit to compost only clean wood material cannot accept drywall. (Ref. TAC, Title 30, Ch. 332, part X).

However, there are a few companies who are authorized to compost drywall. They have to get a special permit to do this. Shannon referred me to an interesting online database called Recycle Texas Online: http://www5.tceq.state.tx.us/rtol/. You can search this database to find companies in Texas who can provide recycling for specific products.

In regards to David Intner's post about stuffing wall cavities with scrap gypsum board. I think that that would be a bad idea at best. You have not actually diverted that waste as it is still on site and will have to be dealt with eventually. The practice of stuffing waste of any kind into a wall cavity is not an acceptable practice in my opinion. Debris in a wall cavity creates a host for insects, adds to the building load, harbors moisture, and is a problem in normal building maintenance. Have you ever tried to run new wiring through a cavity packed with waste? Or tried to install molly anchors where secondary pieces of drywall are leaning against the top sheet? Most reputable installers that I work with clean out the cavity before closing it, the best use a shop vac.