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RecyclingDrywall
Matthew TomberlinA.L. Baucom Family Farms, Inc.
Monroe, North Carolina
Outline• Introduction• The Objective• The Grant• The Result• The Process• Challenges & Opportunities• Partnerships• Takeaways
Introduction• NC Century Farm dating to 1901• Based in Union County, NC• Cover 14,000 acres annually• Farm in seven counties in the
Carolinas• Up to 100 miles between farms• Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, Cotton,
Peanuts, Sorghum, Strawberries, Misc. Produce
Introduction• Mostly no-till, some farms since
1980• 100+ unique farms &
landowners• Field sizes from 5 to 500+ acres• 25+ soil types, clay to sand• Recycle: poultry litter, spoiled
grains, spoiled feed, mulch, compost
Why Gypsum?
• Calcuim Sulfate Dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O
• Soil amendment used since Roman Empire era
• Helps correct soil pH• Improves water infiltration into
soil structure
• Plants need sulfur in small amounts
• Chlorophyll creation• Disease resistance• Nitrogen fixation in legumes
• Unintended consequences of “clean air” legislation
Why Drywall
• Gypsum panel board overlaid with paper
• Used extensively in new construction & renovations
• Fire resistant, aesthetic • Major waste source from new
construction projects
The Objective• Divert clean drywall from
landfills• Find productive alternative use
for drywall
The Grant• Invitation from RBAC to apply
for matching grant up to $40,000
• Use for capital expenses directly related to reducing C&D waste
• Grant helped purchased a semi truck and Trinity® live belt-floor trailer for hauling product
The Result• Over 7,000 tons diverted in 2016• Replaced 95% of ag gypsum with
recycled drywall • Drywall product about half cost
of ag gypsum• Saved approx. 18,000 gallons of
diesel fuel • Local source point 72 miles round
trip vs. 368 miles round
The Process• Contractors deliver clean drywall
waste to landfill• Must be free of paint, nails,
screws• Must be free of contaminants• Charged nominal tipping fee
• Drywall stacked into pile for processing
• Drywall processed by grinder/screener at landfill
Before
After
The Process
The Process• Farm user picks up finished
product from landfill• Product delivered to farm where
it will be applied• Ag spreaders apply product to
farmland prior to planting or tillage
Challenges• Spreading the product• Processing the product
• Who• Where
• Environmental considerations• Waste sampling/NCDA Lab
• Initial regulatory hurdles with DEQ
“It [drywall] works…but you have to wantto make it work.”
-Allan Baucom, OwnerA.L. Baucom Family Farms, Inc.
Challenges
Opportunities
For Environmental Stakeholders• Reduce amount of waste in
landfills• Provide place for contractors to
recycle unused product• Generate 2-way revenue stream• Collaborate with industry to
meet mutual goals
For Industry Stakeholders• Local source for product already
in use• Lower product cost• Improved business image• Collaborate with environmental
stakeholders for mutual goals• Equipment sales & service
Partnerships• NCDEQ• Recycling Business Assistance
Center (RBAC)• Wendy Worley (919) 707-8136
• Mecklenburg County C&D Waste Division
• Michael Talbert (980) 314-3868
• G&L Energy (grinding contractor for Meck.)
• Scott Yelton (405) 406-8277
Takeaways• Relationships are everything• Get the right people on your
team• RBAC• NCDEQ• NCDA&CS• Local authorities • Employees• Outside professionals
• Be prepared to invest • Time• Money• Expertise
• Be ready to adapt• Project must have positive ROI
for the end user
Thank you.Matthew Tomberlin
A.L. Baucom Family Farms, Inc.Monroe, North Carolina
www.albaucom.com