*
I’m building a house this summer and I always am concerned about recycling, waste reduction, and the environment. I’ve heard that drywall can be broken up and mixed with the soil as a soil amendment. I’ll chew it up well with the rototiller and mix the cardboard cover in with it. The drywall material buffers the pH of the soil, I guess. Lime or gypsum is normally added to soil anyway to “sweeten” it. Has anybody out there had any experience with doing this, or can any chemistry-oriented person provide me with some “chemical speculation” on what would go on in the soil with this? I’d hate to do this and then discover some unforseen adverse effect, so I might just end up using one of my wife’s potted plants as a guinea pig.
Thanks muchly – Brian.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Fine Homebuilding is excited to be the official media partner of the 2024 Building Science Symposium series! This event offers builders, tradesmen, architects, designers and suppliers to discuss topics ranging…
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
I'm building a house this summer and I always am concerned about recycling, waste reduction, and the environment. I've heard that drywall can be broken up and mixed with the soil as a soil amendment. I'll chew it up well with the rototiller and mix the cardboard cover in with it. The drywall material buffers the pH of the soil, I guess. Lime or gypsum is normally added to soil anyway to "sweeten" it. Has anybody out there had any experience with doing this, or can any chemistry-oriented person provide me with some "chemical speculation" on what would go on in the soil with this? I'd hate to do this and then discover some unforseen adverse effect, so I might just end up using one of my wife's potted plants as a guinea pig.
Thanks muchly - Brian.