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