Residential Construction Wastes

As tipping fees have risen, interest has increased in finding alternative uses for construction wastes. Many home buyers are also looking for environmentally sensitive building practices. This can include recycling and reuse of construction wastes instead of disposal.

The land application program has worked with the beneficial reuse of two construction wastes - scrap wallboard and wood wastes. Clean scrap wallboard from residential construction can be ground and applied on lawns, planting beds or gardens. The ground scrap wallboard is basically gypsum which has long been used as a source of calcium and sulfur in agriculture. Gypsum can also help promote the movement of water into the soil by reducing crusting and improvimg soil structure. The Cooperative Extension Service has developed two bulletins that outline how ground scrap wallboard can be beneficially reused. See our Resources for more information.

Some types of wood waste can also can be used on-site. Treated lumber scraps should never be ground and reused, but regular dimensional lumber like 2x4s can be used as mulch, for erosion control or in heavy traffic areas. The land application program is currently conducting a study to evaluate whether ground engineered wood products such as plywood wood can also be used for these purposes.