THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY: Reducing Drywall Waste by Utilizing Recycled Gypsum in Concrete
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY: Reducing Drywall Waste by Utilizing Recycled Gypsum in ConcreteImpact: Every one ton of cement produced leads to 0.9 tons of CO2 emissions. A small reduction in the amount of cement, which constitutes about 10% cement by weight, initiates a large environmental incentive for the concrete industry. Additionally, drywall accounts for 20-25% of construction waste. The chemical makeup also makes disposal of the product into landfills difficult. Wet gypsum contributes contaminating leachate to groundwater and is identified as a source of odorous gas production at landfill sites.
Verified technology in recycled gypsum use eliminates the environmental concerns associated with disposal of recycled gypsum in landfill and at the same time address the CO2 emission concerns associated with the cement manufacture. Due to growing interest in sustainable development, engineers and architects are often looking for new materials that are sustainable. Recycled gypsum will be a strong contender for such sustainable development.