Each year, 15 million tons of drywall are made across the United States. Most of it goes to walls, but about 15 percent of it is discarded. What do you do with it?

Except for professional plasterers and drywallers, nobody likes using drywall. It's heavy, crumbly, and is difficult to cut with precision. Don't even get started on tapering and mudding it. It's just dust and mess.

However, 15 million pounds of drywall is made within the United States every year. A majority of it goes to walls; however, around 15% is leftover debris. What do you do with it?

Recycle It

Drywall is basically the mineral gypsum (calcium sulfate), and water is spread over paper backing and kiln-fired to form 4-feet x 8-feet (or 10-feet or 12-feet) sheets. Calcium sulfate is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be beneficial in your garden or lawn. It can also be recycled. A part of the sheets of drywall you purchase at the home center could be from a recycled drywall.

There aren't many recycling programs that allow the use of drywall. This means that you have to be aware of the rules when you're a recycling proponent. However, it is possible.

Repurpose It

It is also possible to reuse the wallboard by peeling off the paper. Start with one corner and then pull until it falls off quite effortlessly. Then, crush it back into powder form, and then sprinkle it over your lawn or garden. Gypsum helps improve soil structure and decrease erosion.

Compost It

Additionally, you can add drywall that has been crushed with the backing removed from your garden composter. Be aware, however, that drywall gypsum that is decomposing is known for its smell.

Save It

If you're a DIYer, it is sensible to keep a few useful pieces of drywall to fix any issues. If you don't, you'll end up purchasing an entire sheet of 4 x 8 to fix a small issue. If you're an artist, you should know the backing paper on drywall is a good painter. The drywall can serve as a canvas to create your art.

If you're not able to reuse or recycle it, you should eliminate any drywall leftover. Garbage haulers will typically take it when it's broken and then re-bagged. If you want to keep some storage space, make sure it's in a dry location because drywall (expect for the mold-resistant type) is a suitable environment for mildew and mold.