Plasterboard is on almost every renovation, extension and fit-out, and it’s one of the most common reasons skips get surcharged. You can’t throw it in a mixed skip with everything else. It isn’t hazardous, but it does have to be kept apart from other waste, and many skip companies will charge extra or refuse a load if they find it mixed in.

This guide explains why, and how to deal with plasterboard on DIY and trade jobs.

Why plasterboard has to be separated

Plasterboard is made from gypsum, which is calcium sulphate. When gypsum is buried in landfill alongside biodegradable waste such as wood, paper and food, the two react and produce hydrogen sulphide. It’s a toxic gas that smells of rotten eggs and can travel off site.

Before 2009, mixed construction waste containing up to 10% gypsum could go to landfill. Since then, the Environment Agency has required gypsum waste to be kept out of landfill cells that take biodegradable waste. In practice, that means plasterboard has to be collected and handled separately.

Is plasterboard hazardous waste?

No. Clean plasterboard is non-hazardous and is coded 17 08 02 (gypsum-based construction materials). It only becomes hazardous if it’s contaminated with something hazardous, for example asbestos in older textured coatings or boards. If you’re working on a building from before 2000, check first. See can I remove asbestos myself? and our guide to whether your waste is hazardous.

How to get rid of plasterboard

Keep it separate in the skip. Some skip companies will take plasterboard in the same skip if it’s kept to one end or bagged separately, so it can be pulled out at the transfer station. Tell them when you book, and ask whether there’s a charge.

Hire a separate skip or bag. On larger jobs, a dedicated plasterboard skip or bulk bag is usually cheaper than paying a contamination charge on a mixed skip. Not sure what size you need? See what size skip do I need.

Take small amounts to your council recycling centre. Since 31 December 2023, councils in England can’t charge householders for small amounts of DIY waste, including plasterboard, up to two 50 litre bags per visit. Check your council’s rules on how often you can visit.

Recycle it. Clean plasterboard can be recycled into new gypsum for plasterboard and other products. Many plasterboard skips go straight to a recycler rather than landfill.

Tips for trades and site managers

• Keep it dry. Wet plasterboard is much heavier, which pushes up weight charges, and it’s harder to recycle.
• Keep it clean. Don’t let other waste, especially wood, food packaging or rubble, end up in the plasterboard bag.
• Order carefully. Accurate measuring and ordering cuts offcuts, which are the main source of plasterboard waste on site.
• Brief the whole team. One person throwing offcuts in the general skip can cause a surcharge on the whole load.
• Keep the paperwork. As with any waste, keep the waste transfer note for two years.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put plaster in a skip?
Small amounts of bagged plaster from walls are usually treated like plasterboard, as they’re also gypsum based. Ask your skip company.

Can I put Artex in a skip?
Only if you know it doesn’t contain asbestos. Artex applied before 2000 may contain it, so get a sample tested first.

What about plasterboard in a wait and load skip?
A wait and load collection can work well for a single load of plasterboard, as long as it’s the only material on the lorry.

Book the right skip first time

Select A Skip can supply a mixed skip and a separate plasterboard skip or bag from local suppliers across the UK. See our skip hire options and the full list of what can go in a skip, get a quote or call 01743 341 000.

Sources: GOV.UK, Charges for disposing of DIY waste at recycling centres scrapped; Countrystyle Recycling, The dos and don’ts of plasterboard disposal.