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Annoyingly all the spare plasterboard from our building project got left outside by the contractor so it's unusable as plasterboard. Any thoughts on what it might be good for? I'm thinking it might work as a binder mixed with stone to fill in pot holes? Or could be chopped up and added to compost heap?? Clutching at straws really to avoid having to landfill it all. (It's an annoyingly large amount that they over ordered as well.)

Deepbed potatoes.

CharlieB wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 9:44 pm Or could be chopped up and added to compost heap??

I think that will produce hydrogen sulphide, which is why they don't want it in a landfill with domestic waste.

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/ ... clable.php

sounds like the best option is recycle, using it at home sounds like a chance to cause issues.

Moxi

No potential to let it dry out so someone could line a shed or similar on free cycle?

Excuse copy and paste -
Gypsum is also called Hydrous Calcium Sulphate because one molecule of calcium sulphate is combined with
two molecules of water. Its chemical formula is CaSO4 · 2H 2O. By volume this works out to nearly 50% water.
This water is called "Water of Crystallization." It is held in the gypsum molecule and is only driven off at
temperatures above 212° F, just as steam is driven off from boiling the contained water. This is why gypsum
drywall is so good in fire.
Plaster of Paris, as stated above, is the result of cooking gypsum and driving most of the water from the
mineral (CaSO4 · 2H 2O) forming a thirsty powder. It is a solid to solid phase change; requiring heat (212° F) to
turn gypsum to Plaster of Paris and steam, then when water is added to Plaster of Paris it turns to gypsum
giving off heat. This reaction can be repeated endlessly, requiring or exhausting the exact same amount of
energy per phase change!
George

If you want to create curved plasterboard the method I was informed of involved wetting the PB then leavig it supported at opposing edges with a weight in the middle. Repeating the process unti you get the desired amount of curve then leaving the board to dry before use.

Dpenng on how wet and damaged the boards are they should dry out - remember when wet plastered they and the finishing plaster usually need a few days to dry before sealing/painting. Obviously if the boards hav literally desintigrated or are covered in mould different situation.

Many thanks all. Yes, it does look like recycling is the answer. Good to know that the local recycling centre will take them.

I'll certainly keep some of the less bad bits for filling in holes, etc, but not worth putting on freecycle I think.

CharlieB wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2024 3:38 pm Many thanks all. Yes, it does look like recycling is the answer. Good to know that the local recycling centre will take them.

I'll certainly keep some of the less bad bits for filling in holes, etc, but not worth putting on freecycle I think.

If it’s like our recycling centre, they do charge for plasterboard disposal.

Be worth checking the cost - when I tried to get rid of some small off cuts it was silly money.

I went to our local tip today and after having to pay for such item disposal, there have changed their policy to allow DIY waste but limited to 6 bags per 4 weeks.

I recall some one posting a change to national policy a few months back.