Recycling old drywall / sheetrock / wallboard as soil ammendment?

So, I was just wondering... Gypsum is often used as a soil amendment to break up clays and other hard soils.

And drywall is mostly just gypsum compressed between two layers of paper, so...

So when remodeling, is it possible to use that in the garden instead of hauling it off?

Would it disintegrate to pulp if you busted it up and let soak in a tub of water?
Or could you run it through a chipper/shreadder?

Or is there something nasty they put in it that makes it a no-go to begin with?

I did a search before I posted this topic and nothing came up.  

Then after I submitted it, the similar topics bar listed this old thread, which pretty much has all the answers I was looking for:
https://permies.com/t/9769/Free-gypsum-hydronic-heating

I'm leaving this topic, however, so that hopefully it will turn up in peoples' searches better and they can then visit that other topic. ;)

Hey,

Yes the previous topic has good information,
But it is not about soil amendments,

I have done this with horse hair plaster, brand new plaster, modern gyprock walls.


Trying to obtain the Calcium sulphate. ratios differ!


So basically you need to be 100% sure its not Asbestos,


Online you can find product details this will help you!


Always use protective gear, think like your being gassed and burned by chemical weapons mind set of protection!

then you remove all the other materials off to separate, Do not submerge this in water with organic materials, to make anaerobic compost tea, or your making hydrogen-sulphide gas!

Careful  not to make quicklime either!

After doing all possible safety checks and measures,

You will need to remove the glue, paper, hair, nails, staples, screws, string, hemp,

You could burn it, but be careful about burns and gas.

Then your can use it as an amendment so long as it is spread out and in oxygenated soils!

Be safe this is dangerous!

There's another thread I found that had some good information about soil amendment with drywall/plasterboard.
I'm glad you asked, because I used some plasterboard in some areas of my orchard (minus paper, no ill effects that I can see)