The EA guide and EA website intended for producers and waste managers of gypsum wastes or other waste streams with a high sulphate content states the following:

"Sulphates in gypsum can break down in a landfill to produce toxic and odorous hydrogen sulphide gas. The landfilling of gypsum and other high sulphate-bearing wastes with biodegradable waste has been prohibited in England and Wales since July 2005.

However, we have been taking a pragmatic view that separate disposal of these substances is not necessary where a waste contains less than 10 per cent of gypsum or other high sulphate bearing waste. This was a working guideline that we always planned to review in response to scientific research.The relationship between sulphate in waste and the production of hydrogen sulphide gas is complex, but there is no minimum quantity of gypsum below which no hydrogen sulphide gas will be produced in a landfill. We have therefore revised our guidance to remove the 10 per cent guideline value.

Our intention is to encourage the reuse and recycling of more gypsum while reducing the potential production of hydrogen sulphide gas at landfill.How to deal with waste gypsumAll waste must be treated before it is sent to landfill. Loads containing any identifiable gypsum should not be taken to landfill but should be treated to remove the gypsum. Where a load of gypsum must go to landfill, it must be deposited in a separate cell where no biodegradable waste has been accepted. The simplest method of treating gypsum is to separate it from other waste at the point of production. It could also be sent it to a contractor to sort it at a waste transfer facility. Separated gypsum can be recycled or reused, for example in the manufacture of plasterboard or for agricultural soil treatment."

Because of its existing set up, Ethos Recycling is in a prime position to respond to the introduction of the new regulation on gypsum-based material:

• As a licensed waste carrier, Ethos Recycling can either collect mixed waste or source segregated waste depending on the requirements of its clients.  

• As an operator of a waste recycling and transfer facility, Ethos Recycling separate the gypsum-based material from other wastes so that it can then be recycled or reused. We do not deliberately mix gypsum waste (plasterboard waste) with other construction and demolition waste at our waste recycling and transfer facilities.