This week we dig into one of construction’s most misunderstood materials: plasterboard. Why is it banned from landfill? What risks does it pose? And why is so much still being tossed into skips?

News Roundup

Plastic & Public Health

A report in The Lancet warns plastic pollution is damaging human health at every stage of life and costing $1.5 trillion annually. Alasdair and Jane discuss how even "sustainable" packaging choices like plastic wine bottles raise questions, and highlight growing concerns about microplastics in food and drink.

Recycling Industry Turmoil

Biffa has closed its Sunderland plastics plant — the latest sign that UK recycling capacity is under pressure. Meanwhile, Veolia is investing £70m in a new facility in Shrewsbury. Alasdair argues we need better reporting: baling is not recycling.

Waste Crime Update

The Joint Unit for Waste Crime released its 2024–25 report. A few vehicles and sites were inspected, but Jane and Alasdair agree: the scale of enforcement is nowhere near what’s needed.

Landfill Tax Reforms

Plans to scrap the lower tax rate for inert waste could see the cost of landfill rise dramatically — from £4 to over £126 per tonne. The hosts warn this could trigger a spike in fly-tipping unless recycling systems are improved.

Rubbish Rant:

Jane’s had enough. A skip in her village was filled with reusable plasterboard, timber, and cardboard — all good materials thrown away. A builder at the pub even said they used to reuse everything.

Even if the skip is heading for a recycling site, Jane points out that only the biggest, cleanest bits get recovered. The rest? Lost to landfill or incineration.

Alasdair links it to his appearance on The Gaffer podcast: half a sheet of plasterboard might not seem like much, but over time that waste adds up — in cost and carbon.

Takeaway: If you’re producing waste, you can help reduce it. Segregate. Reuse. Ask your contractor where the skip is going.

Topic: Deep Dive Into Plasterboard

Plasterboard contains gypsum, which breaks down in landfill and creates hydrogen sulphide — a toxic, sometimes fatal gas. That’s why the UK banned it from landfill back in 2009.

But despite the ban, plasterboard is still showing up in general waste skips. Alasdair’s recent TikTok (now with over 79k views) showed exactly that — and sparked heated responses ranging from “I paid for the skip, I’ll do what I want” to “they’ll sort it at the plant.” But will they?

The reality is: plasterboard can only be recycled if it’s clean and separated. Jane and Alasdair explore where gypsum comes from, how it can be reused, and how take-back schemes (like Knauf and British Gypsum) rely on good on-site practices. Mixed skips = lost opportunity.

With newer plasterboard products containing foil, foam and other layers, the recycling process is becoming more complex. Still, the key message is clear: segregate at the source.

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See you again next Thursday at 4pm!