| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 97 10:23 WET DST From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman_ Subject: Re: Recycling gypsum drywall in compost...(Steve Tinder)
June 5, 1997
Dear Steve Tinder,
Here is what we know:
St. Johns River Power Park, Jacksonville, FL (a utility) is selling gypsum to farmers for composting and animal bedding, particularly to peanut farmers, and to a smaller extent watermelon growers. This gypsum is not drywall-produced, but scrubber-produced.
Gypsum from drywall was tested in compost and on untreated soil by two graduate students at SUNY College of Environmental Science, Syracuse, and found to be very beneficial, in 1993.
Biocycle has the basic articles on use in compost and in direct agricultural utilization. See e.g. the 7/96 issue, page 57. However, a full review was published under the title Use of Gypsum on Soils: A Review by I. Shainberg, M.E. Sumner, et. al. by Springer-Verlag Publishing House, of NY in 1989.
Further data and applications in these two realms is at the website and in reports by the Clean Washington Center including Construction, Demolition Landclearing Debris Research Assessment by Gershman, Brickner Bratton of Falls Church, VA, in 1995.
-- Research Library for RCRA