Material Flow Research Report and Updated Recycling Webpage Highlight Key Opportunities and Challenges
In response to potential statewide legislation and ongoing knowledge gaps around closed-loop gypsum panel recycling in California,
the Gypsum Association (GA) conducted a comprehensive three-year material flow research study. The goal was to better understand the life cycle, from manufacture to disposal, of this widely used building material.
The resulting report, California Gypsum Material Flows for Life Cycle Impact Analysis and Recycling Assessment: Emerging Research for California Policy Makers, offers critical insights into the factors that influence how gypsum panel scrap should be managed. These include whether recycling should occur in a closed-loop system (returning scrap to panel production), in an open-loop system (repurposing scrap for other uses such as portland cement or soil amendments), or whether disposal in landfills remains the most feasible option.
Transportation emissions, market demand, and the highest and best use of gypsum waste all play a role in determining the most sustainable path forward.
While concentrated on the state of California, the report should mark the beginning of efforts to understand how gypsum panel recycling could work in an environmentally and economically sustainable way across states, counties, and municipalities.
The full report is available on the GA’s newly updated recycling webpage, which outlines not only current practices and benefits but also the challenges facing the industry.
The GA and its member companies are committed to environmental stewardship and continuing the discussion with industry stakeholders as recycling technology and practices continue to evolve.