Environment Agency Ceases 10% Gypsum and Plasterboard Rule from April 2009

From April 2009 the Environment Agency will ban the mixing and disposal of gypsum wastes including plasterboard with general mixed waste (biodegradable) for disposal to landfill.

1. What does this mean for producers of gypsum/plasterboard waste such as the construction and demolition industry?
2. In the first instance your Site Waste Management Plan should take account of your estimated and actual production of gypsum and plasterboard wastes.
3. You should separate gypsum and plasterboard wastes wherever possible for recycling and recovery.
4. You must comply with your Waste Duty of Care and only pass your waste on to someone who is an authorised waste carrier.
5. Where you or your waste carrier passes your gypsum and plasterboard waste on to someone else for treatment you must ensure that they will manage it according to the new requirements i.e. they reuse, recycle or recover it where possible and do not mix it with other wastes for disposal to landfill.

You can get more advice on managing gypsum waster and plasterboard waste from WRAP. See www.wrap.org.uk

Outline Statement: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/news/100510.aspx

Full Position Statement: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/mwrp007_2163539.pdf

New Environment Agency-WRAP Initiative to Increase Re-use and Recycling and Reduce Landfill of Waste Materials

The Waste Protocols Project has been set up to help industry identify a range of materials that can be turned into new items or recycled rather than being discarded to landfill with associated waste management costs, labour costs, and lost material costs.

To date 11 materials have been identified including non packaging plastics such as old drainpipes and waste oils that can be transformed into new products. These 11 materials “are projected to save businesses and industry more than £4oo million, create a £280 million market in the materials and divert 17 million tonnes of waste from landfill”.

Projects such as this will feed into the construction industry as well as other industries and can assist in identifying additional potential markets for the reuse and recovery of waste construction materials, in turn feeding into project Site Waste Management Plans.
To read the full article go to:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/102042.aspx?page=2