Can I Bury Plasterboard in My Garden?

If you’re currently in the middle of a home renovation project, it’s very likely that you’ve generated a lot of rubbish, and in particular old plasterboard. While you might be tempted to bury it in your garden, just stop right there. There are far better and safer ways of getting rid of it.

Firstly, let us explain why burying plasterboard in your garden is just about the worst thing you can do…

Can plasterboard be buried in a garden?

Yes, you can bury plasterboard in a garden, and you might think it is an easy solution to save you time and money. But please don’t do it. Plasterboard contains gypsum. This is a type of sulphate that can be harmful to plants and animals. It will also turn the soil in your garden more acidic. 

There is also a chance that local regulations might prohibit the burying of plasterboard in residential areas in the future. Check with your local council to see what local legislation is.

Any reason to not bury plasterboard in your garden is the potential bad smell.

When plasterboard gets damp and is buried with other decomposing waste, the chemical reaction will release hydrogen sulphide that has a very distinct smell of rotten eggs. If left, this can get progressively worse, and even become poisonous.

The bottom line is that plasterboard does not decompose, so if you do decide to bury it in your garden, it’s grossly irresponsible to the environment. It could also pollute the soil for decades to come. 

Legal and ethical alternatives to burying plasterboard in a garden

Your first choice could be to call the Zero Waste Group team. We divert over 90% of all rubbish we collect away from landfill and aim to recycle as much waste as possible. For a quote, get in touch with us today. 

If you have the means and time to transport it yourself, you could take the old plasterboard to your local HWRC. Check in advance that they accept, but they should do providing it’s small amounts and not on a commercial scale. 

Do be aware though, there could a cost to doing so. This is a quote direct from a local council website:

“Plasterboard is charged at £10 for each sheet (maximum size 3 x 1.2m) or part sheet, and £6 for each standard rubble bag or part bag, up to a maximum of 53.5 x 82cm (when laid flat), filled so that the waste is contained and can be safely lifted.”

You also might have to do a lot of hard work to get the plasterboard ready for disposal at the local tip:

“Visitors wishing to dispose of plasterboard, plaster or gypsum based products mixed with other waste types must separate them prior to visiting the HWRC so they can be disposed of separately. The removal of tiles from plasterboard may be made easier if soaked in water.”

With Zero Waste Group it will be easier, and possibly work out cheaper overall depending on how much waste you want us to collect from your garden.

In conclusion, burying old plasterboard in your garden might seem like a quick, easy, and cheap way to dispose it, but it comes with so many negative impacts that it’s simply not worth it. 

Instead of burying it, consider called a waste management company like Zero Waste Group, recycling it, properly disposing of it at a landfill, or getting creative and finding a new use for it.