January 8, 2003—An ongoing pilot program in Orange and Seminole counties in Florida, being overseen by engineering firms R. W. Beck, Inc. and SCS Engineers, explores the recycling potential of drywall—to reduce volume in landfills.
During the program, tons of wasted drywall will be separated into two separate products, paper and gypsum. Gypsum, commonly used to make cement and new drywall, also produces agricultural additives for crops such as citrus, tomatoes and peanuts.
“Central Florida has so much drywall, from housing construction as well as commercial expansion such as the Orange County Convention Center, that it is a good area to determine if drywall recycling can be sustained,” says Steve Cottrell, environmental specialist with the Orange County Solid Waste Division and Utilities Department.
Kim Cochran, project manager for R. W. Beck, says, “One of the goals for the project is testing the drywall recycling technology in a series of on-site demonstrations. So far, all of these tests have proceeded well, and end markets are interested in putting recycled gypsum into their processes as a final test of the material.”
Funding for the program is being provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) through the Innovative Recycling Grants.
For more information, contact R.W. Beck at 407/ 422-4911.
