LCA of Recycling Options for Gypsum from Construction and Demolition Waste
Abstract
Large amounts of gypsum waste are annually produced from the construction and demolition sector. Its landfilling is becoming more and more expensive due to stricter EU regulations, while its recycling together with the rest of construction and demolition waste might be hampered due to technical restrictions; source separation, however, makes gypsum waste recycling feasible. Different alternatives for recycling exist, but their overall environmental impacts have never been quantified and compared in details. This study investigates from a life cycle perspective the environmental impacts of two of the four main recycling options currently carried out in Denmark: recycling for production of new gypsum plasterboards, and utilization on land mixed with compost as soil amendment. Life cycle assessment results indicate that the option of gypsum recycling to new plasterboard provides environmental savings for most of the impact categories and proves to be more environmentally friendly than the alternative of use on land; substitution of virgin gypsum is one of the key parameters.
Info
Conference Paper, 2011
UN SDG Classification
DK Main Research Area
Science/Technology
