Plasterboard recycling into soil

[shoppintractors]

I remember reading a post on this particular topic a while back.
I tracked down the post and have copied it below.
<font color="blue"> Re: First time with tiller
#485695 - 08/24/04 11:37 PM Edit Reply Quote

WARNING! WARNING! Danger Will Robinson!

Adding drywall to soil as an amendment is an absolute NO NO! ESPECIALLY for growing vegetables for human consumption.
It was a while back that I researched this topic for myself so I do forget a lot of the details, but the manufacturers of drywall that I contacted directly recommend against it, even when the land use is not for raising crops for human consumption. IIRC there are certain additives for mould control and other toxins in modern drywall that make it risky stuff to use for this purpose. My own academic background is Biology, and I am an astute practicing environmentalist, like to recycle just about anything, and even I would not do this after doing the research that I did.
Just wanted to chime in in case anyone else was considering doing this. Gypsum specifically made as a soil amendment - YES, absolutely the right stuff for clay. Dry wall - NO.
- Brian.
</font>

The post comes from this thread.

Don

 

[Nik]

Interesting post. Well I guess its to the dump for my excess drywall scrap. Although plasterboard may not have near the toxin danger of pressure treated wood I will not risk possibly contaminating my soil.

 

[CTyler]

I haven't read the article but there is drywall and there is mold/mildew resistant drywall. Actually there are several types of drywall made with different additives like fiberglass for example so you can bend it more.

 

[PineRidge]

Hmmmm we have used it a few times and haven't noticed any ill effects yet, any ill effects yet, any ill effects yet, any ill effects yet, any ill effects yet, /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[RalphVa]

I've used gypsom on clay before. Had a couple small pieces from a sheetrock repair. I just shredded it with some other stuff in my TroyBilt a couple days ago. Makes quite a white cloud when it gets shredded. Had to move my Gravely out of the way of the cloud. Used the Gravely to pull the TroyBilt over to the shredding pile because the JD has the soil ripper bar on it, in the way of either the drawbar or the 3pt drawbar.

Ralph

 

[SPIKER]

I posted to the other replys a long time ago, the modern drywall does not have nay chemicals added to it which would/could be harmfull. if it did it would be considered hazzardous waste and would not be aloud in any land fill. My bro is a drywall hanger/finsiher since he was a teenager still does it and it is good for soil. do till it while it is still dry so it breaks up well don't let it set unless it is simply left to decay which is OK as weed control over small areas I use it between rows and also have tilled in about 4 pickup loads into the garden. It leaves some small white gravely chuncks for a season but those decay and amend the soil to creat a more sand like material rather than the clay binding so the clay will then drian and have better groth potincial but I still say to have soil tests done to see what is needed for gardens. fopr a field there are even commercial grinders designed to grind and spread used drywall bits...

MarkM

 

[Bird]

I didn't put nearly as much as you into my garden, but I did have a couple of sheets of the stuff that got wet in the barn, so I broke it up, threw in the garden, and tilled it in.

 

[MMM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Danger Will Robinson!
)</font>

Supposedly bad for fish.........and might make your 'maters itch.
From THE rock guys.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Type ‘X’ gypsum drywall, such as SHEETROCK® Brand Gypsum Panels, FIRECODE Core, has glass fibers mixed with the gypsum to reinforce the core of the panels. )</font>

 

[edski]

Everything in moderation (including sobriety).
A reasonable amt, tilled into the soil shouldn't hurt anything or anyone. Large quantities buried in landfills can breakdown anerobically and give off H2S gas (toxic). This is a significant problem and has led to expensive remediation projects.
Here is a link from EPA that gives more info than you'll care to read.
EPA site RE: Land application of sheetrock

Cheers, edski

 

[slapshot]

I must admit I am stunned by the volume of discussion this topic has both here and elsewhere.
I think I'm going to till mine in. The clay where I'm at is clean enough to bake straight out of the ground.

-dave