Angus council suspends plasterboard recycling

Angus council has temporarily suspended the collection of waste plasterboard at its recycling centres following warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) about the use of gypsum in animal bedding.

In guidance issued on June 28, SEPA warned against the use of gypsum a material found in plasterboard as animal bedding, as it said it may present a significant risk to animal and human health.

Angus council had previously been sending plasterboard waste to a centre where it was reprocessed into animal bedding. The SEPA ruling means that the council is not able to accept plasterboard as a recyclable material, until a reprocessing centre can be located where the plasterboard waste is reprocessed for other purposes.

Without a recycling route, plasterboard can only be disposed of to landfill at sites specifically licensed to receive the material. But, Angus councils landfill site at Restenneth does not hold the required permit and cannot currently accept the material.

The council, which received notification of the change from SEPA last week, has stopped receiving plasterboard at its seven household and commercial waste recycling centres in Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Monifieth and Montrose.

Disposal

Stephen Field, land unit manager for SEPA, said: “The disposal of plasterboard, gypsum and gypsum-containing wastes can lead to the production of the highly odorous, and toxic, gas, hydrogen sulphide. Due to its high levels of sulphate, gypsum, and wastes with similar properties, cannot be landfilled with biodegradable waste in Scotland.

“When used in animal bedding, it is likely waste gypsum will produce considerable levels of hydrogen sulphide, due to the damp, non-ventilated conditions. In such circumstances, hydrogen sulphide presents a significant risk to animal and human life, as well as the environment, and we would advise against anyone using it for this purpose until there is clear, scientific evidence to demonstrate it does not pose such a risk.”

Angus councilis nowin consultation with SEPA and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to clarify the position on plasterboard and identify an alternative arrangement for the recycling or disposal of the material.