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Sheetrock in compost
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Author:  JA [ Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:04 am ]
Post subject:  Sheetrock in compost

I thought I had heard Howard say something about sheetrock is okay to put in the compost. I thought it is made from, maybe, phosphate rock??

Author:  CaptainCompostAL [ Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:13 am ]
Post subject: 

Well, be careful my friend!

Make sure you do your homework first and find out how that sheetrock was made or where it came from! If you are a strict organic or sustainable gardeners, you might not want to use it after you find out what's really in it!

Now having said all that, most synthetic chemicals in any form of paper products are 100% biodegradable, but they can still take a lot time to break down. The "rock' in sheetrocks are mostly calcium, or calcium carbonate based, (limestone) materials. Actually a liming material. Another issue if your native soil is already very alkaline!

In a large hot active compost pile, almost anything in the form of plants, animals, or minerals, is fine for a good healthy compost production. However in a slower, cooler, more passive compost pile, I won't do it! The same is true for mixing directly in garden soil. I won't do it! All the mild toxins and whatever else it, might not break down fast enough in time for growing plants to thrive in it!

Author:  tommyr [ Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

Used to be a mill in Rotan, Texas that made sheetrock. It was made from gypsum or in that area it was referred as gyp rock. Don't know what else was used to make it, but i'm sure they used some sort of glue for paper backing. I have added gypsum to my garden but it contained 17% sulphur whick lowered my pH dramatically. Most sheetrock I have seen left on the ground from a salvage job didn't deterioate very quickly.

Author:  khwoz [ Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:25 am ]
Post subject: 

A builder Howard had on his radio show said that the new sheetrock made nowadays is safe to use. I don't have details regarding the potentially harmful ingredients in the older stuff. In the DFW area, most likely you do not need any more alkaline material in your soil.

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