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How
does gypsum drywall create odor problems when disposed in landfills?
When gypsum drywall is disposed in landfills, a series of biological and chemical reactions can occur that have the potential for adverse environmental impacts. When drywall in a landfill gets wet, some of the sulfate from the gypsum dissolves into the water. If this “leachate” reaches the groundwater, contamination with sulfate may result. The US federal secondary drinking water standard for sulfate is 250 mg/L. Concentrations above this level have been observed in the groundwater at unlined C&D debris landfills. The sulfate also contributes to the high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations observed in groundwater at many C&D debris landfills. Another issue results form the biological conversion of dissolved sulfate to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S is a foul-smelling gas (rotten eggs). It is produced under wet, anaerobic conditions, such as those that often occur in landfills. The presence of organic matter such as yard trash or cardboard is needed for the microorganisms to thrive, but even the paper on the drywall itself provides enough organic matter for the biological reactions to proceed. H2S has been observed over a tremendously large concentration range at C&D debris landfills. The human nose can detect H2S concentrations at relatively low concentrations (<0.1 part per million or ppm). H2S concentrations have commonly been measured in this range in the air above and surrounding C&D debris landfills, thus odor complaints are a common problem. Concentrations in pockets within the landfill have been measured at lethal levels (>250 ppm). Usually by the time the gas reaches the atmosphere, it is usually diluted to below most currently accepted safety concentrations. Landfill operators should exercise extreme caution, however, any time undiluted C&D debris landfill gases might come in contact with a worker (e.g. excavation activities, confined spaces). The odor problem alone has been enough to result in strict actions being required on the part of some landfill operators. Some C&D debris landfill operators have been required to install gas collection and recovery systems, and others have resorted to placing odor masking agents around their sites. In the Vancouver area, gypsum drywall was banned from disposal in landfills as a result of odor problems. |
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