Paint
- Household Hazardous Waste collections: accepts OIL-BASED paint only, no latex paint will accepted. Click here for a list of Household Hazardous Waste Collection dates and locations.
- Donate unused paint to theatre, civic, charitable, or art organizations.
- Habitat ReStore: 2302 Plaza Drive, Benton Harbor. 927-0006. Accepts good, usable, full cans of paint.
Latex PaintLatex paint is the safest paint to use, since it is water-based. It cleans up easily with water so there is no need for toxic thinners. Choose latex paint over oil-based paint when possible. Purchase only the quantity needed and use the product as it was intended to be used. Use up all the paint if possible.
LATEX PAINT (DISPOSAL HINTS)
Dried out latex paint can be thrown away with the regular trash. Leave the lid off the can and set it next to your trash so the waste hauler can see that it is dry.
Allow the paint to dry. Find an area that is protected from children, pets and rain but has good air flow. A high shelf in a well vented garage or shed may be suitable. Remove the lid and allow liquids to evaporate. Depending on the type and quantity of paint, this can take a few days to months. This works well for small quantities (1-3 inches in bottom of can), but larger quantities take longer to dry and may require a different method.
For faster drying:
- Stir it occasionally to break the surface scum, for better evaporation.
- Mix in equal amounts of an absorbent material, such as cat litter, sawdust, plaster of paris, soil, vermiculite, or charcoal and allow the mixture to dry.
- Pour thin layers (about 1 inch) into a cardboard box lined with plastic. Allow to dry one layer at a time until all the paint is hardened.
- For paint that has separated and cannot be mixed, pour off the clear liquids on top into a plastic lined cardboard box, mix with equal amounts of absorbent material and allow to dry. Leave the semi-solid paint sludge in the can to dry.
- Paint excess amounts of paint on cardboard or newspaper to use it up.
- Apply another coat of paint to the surface you bought the paint for.
Important:
- DO NOT dump paint on the ground or down storm drains, where it can travel directly to surface or ground water.
- DO NOT pour paint down the drain. Septic systems and wastewater treatment plants can safely handle small amounts of latex paint only, so limit this to paint brush cleaning and general clean-up.
- DO NOT throw liquid paint in the trash. This will prevent leakage into the landfill.
Click Here to go back to the Recycling Guide Table of Contents.
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