The world today is a different place that 50 years ago. Gypsum no longer needs to be mined. Gypsum can be 100% recycled and there are commercial operations throughout the world who do this. Nova Scotia could do this!

Canada and the US landfill over 7 million tonnes of wallboard each year.(1)

Up to 75% of gypsum export is used in wallboard production. Nova Scotia accounts for 84% of Canada’s production of raw gypsum and almost all of our national exports.*(2)

Since the late 1990s, the consumption of synthetic material has also risen sharply, especially in Europe and North America. In 2004, synthetic gypsum accounted for 26% of the total US domestic gypsum supply.(3)

The use of both recycled and synthetic gypsum can dramatically reduce building costs as well as provide other manufacturing, environmental, and political benefits.

Recycled and synthetic gypsum wallboard has the same or better physical properties, and can be easier to install.

For more information:

Ecology Action's Green Building Materials Guide
Ecology Action's Eco-Renovation
Building Green