Usually yes, but it needs to be kept separate from general waste — here's why.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Reviewed by the Skip Hire Calculator team
Gypsum, the material inside plasterboard, must not be landfilled together with biodegradable waste, because the two can produce hydrogen sulphide, an odorous and toxic gas. That has been the rule since 2005. Since 1 April 2009 the Environment Agency has gone further: producers of construction waste must try to separate gypsum waste and must not deliberately mix it with other waste, and gypsum that can't be recycled has to go to a separate landfill cell. In practice, that's why skip suppliers usually ask for plasterboard to be kept apart. Sources: Environment Agency guidance, ‘Landfilling of gypsum waste including plasterboard’; letsrecycle.com on the 2009 change; see also NetRegs.
Most skip hire suppliers will still take plasterboard, but ask for it to be kept separate from general waste — either in its own dedicated skip, or in a separate section/bag within a mixed skip, depending on the supplier's process.
The rule isn't only about big loads: in 2009 the Environment Agency dropped its old tolerance for up to 10% gypsum in mixed construction waste. How your supplier handles a few offcuts is their own policy, so ask before you load, and bag plasterboard separately if they want it kept apart.
Many council household waste recycling centres take plasterboard in a separate container, but rules and charges for DIY waste vary by council — some limit quantities or charge a fee — so check your council's website before you go.
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