EWC Code
Gypsum-based construction material
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
~25 Mt/year EU (CDW gypsum); ~1.5 Mt/year industrial gypsum by-products
Valorisation Range
€10–50/tonne processed recycled gypsum
Primary Route
Wallboard Recycling (Closed Loop)
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Get contacts for EWC 17 08EWC 17 08 covers gypsum-based materials arising from construction and demolition, principally plasterboard (drywall) waste and plaster coatings. The chapter also encompasses industrially-derived gypsum streams classified under C&DW routes when managed at construction sites — including synthetic gypsum from FGD power station scrubbing, and specialised variants such as red gypsum from TiO₂ manufacture and phosphogypsum from fertiliser production.
Red gypsum is a distinctive iron-bearing calcium sulphate by-product arising from the sulphate-process route to titanium dioxide (TiO₂) production. Ilmenite ore reacts with sulphuric acid, generating iron(II) sulphate (copperas, FeSO₄·7H₂O) as a co-product. Neutralisation of the acid waste liquor with limestone or lime precipitates a reddish-brown calcium sulphate dihydrate rich in iron oxides — hence the name "red gypsum". Huntsman Pigments (Teesside, UK) and Kronos (Germany, Belgium) are the principal European producers, generating approximately 400,000–600,000 tonnes per year of red gypsum between them.
Plasterboard CDW requires source-segregated collection to achieve the 85%+ gypsum purity needed for wallboard manufacturing re-entry. Mixed CDW gypsum contaminated with paper, insulation and metal fixings is downgraded to soil amendment, cement retarder or landfill cover material. The EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and Circular Economy Action Plan push member states toward mandatory separate collection of CDW gypsum streams by 2027, following Denmark and Germany which already have operational collection networks.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 17 08, ranked by economic value and market depth. Wallboard Recycling (Closed Loop) is the primary route.
Source-segregated plasterboard waste (≥85% CaSO₄·2H₂O purity) is paper-stripped, dried and crushed to recycled gypsum powder for re-entry into new plasterboard manufacture. Knauf, Saint-Gobain and British Gypsum operate on-site or contracted gypsum recycling closed-loop programmes. Premium paid vs. landfill: €25–40/t diverted.
Ground recycled gypsum (<0.5% chloride, <0.3% Cl from paper) used as a cement set-retarder displacing natural gypsum in Portland cement grinding. Meets EN 197-1 additive specification. Red gypsum requires iron content assessment — excess Fe₂O₃ can affect cement colour but does not impair binding performance.
Calcium sulphate improves heavy clay soil structure, supplies sulphur (S) for brassicas and oilseed rape, and ameliorates sodic soils by displacing Na⁺ with Ca²⁺. Red gypsum additionally contributes iron as a micronutrient. Application rates of 1–5 t/ha under EA guidance require nutrient and heavy metal assessment to confirm compliance with Nitrates Directive.
These are the established routes for EWC 17 08. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Recycled gypsum powder as primary raw material substitute in plasterboard and interior plaster manufacturing
Ground gypsum as cement set-retarder at clinker grinding stage
Agricultural gypsum application for soil structure improvement and sulphur nutrition
Mixed or contaminated gypsum failing quality thresholds — specialist gypsum landfill required (H₂S risk mitigation)
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 17 08 classification, transport, and treatment.
Gypsum must NOT be co-disposed with biodegradable waste in landfill. When gypsum and biodegradable materials co-decompose anaerobically, H₂S (hydrogen sulphide) is generated — a toxic, flammable gas. EA/Environment Agency guidance requires dedicated gypsum landfill cells or gypsum-inert cell separation.
Huntsman and Kronos have pursued Article 5 WFD by-product status for red gypsum in the UK and Germany respectively, enabling direct sale as soil amendment and construction material without waste carrier documentation. Achieving by-product status requires consistent quality specification and a guaranteed pre-arranged market.
Recycled gypsum entering plasterboard manufacture must meet EN 13279-1 (building plasters) quality criteria. Mandatory CE marking of plasterboard ensures end-product compliance; recycled input material specification is the manufacturer's responsibility and audited under ISO 14001 environmental management.
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Sectors that valorise EWC 17 08 as an input material or secondary raw material.
Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 17 08 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 17 08 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
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