Angus residents have been left in a pickle over potentially toxic plasterboard after new regulations put a stop to waste uplifts.
Angus Council has been forced to temporarily suspended the collection of waste plasterboard at its recycling centres due to a ruling from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to address fears the crushed material could be fatal to humans and animals.
Plasterboard contains gypsum which when disposed of alongside slurry can lead to the production of high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide gas, which can prove lethal if breathed in confined spaces.
The council had been sending plasterboard waste to a centre where it was reprocessed into animal bedding. However, the ruling means the authority is no longer accepting it as a recyclable material.
Until a reprocessing centre can be found where the unwanted plasterboard can be broken down for other purposes, anyone needing to get rid of waste will be unable to do so.
Neighbourhood services convener Donald Morrison said he was concerned the move could lead to fly-tipping and urged Sepa and Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) to come up with a solution.
He said: ”Sepa have done something really strange here and they are saying that because plasterboard can be crushed down it poses a risk and is harmful.
”Of course animals have to be protected, but what are people supposed to do if they need to get rid of plasterboard when the council can’t pick it up and they can’t take it to the recycling centre or put it to landfill?”
A spokeswoman for Angus Council said efforts were being made to find a solution to the problem.
She added: ”Without a recycling route, plasterboard can only be disposed of by land-filling at sites specifically licensed to receive this material.
”The Angus Council landfill site at Restenneth does not hold such a licence and therefore cannot currently accept this waste.”
Sepa are now working with a number of councils across Scotland to find a way of disposing of unwanted plasterboard without damaging the environment.
A spokesman said: ”Disposal of bedding containing gypsum alongside slurry can lead to the production of high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide gas, which can prove fatal in confined spaces.
”There have been reports of cattle deaths in Scotland as a result, and the risk to human health is too great to allow it to continue.
”However, there are a number of alternative, legal options to dispose of waste gypsum as it can be used in cement manufacturing, plasterboard manufacturing, and as a soil conditioner.
”We understand the difficulties that local authorities and producers of waste plasterboard may face over the coming weeks and are keen to work with them to find a way forward.”
For further details or advice contact the council’s ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778.