How to Properly Dispose Paint
To many paint is harmless, but in reality household paint is made from several chemicals that are hazardous to both humans and the environment. You should never throw left over paint into the trash or a dumpster, take a look at how you can properly dispose of the type of paint you have below.
Donate or Repurpose
A latex based paint can last up to 10 years if the container is sealed properly, while oil based paints have a shelf life of up to 15 years. Saving your leftover paint is a good idea for anyone who has little kids running around that may make a mess of your walls. Label any leftover paint buckets to remember where you used them, be sure they’re sealed tight for long term storage.
If you have no use for your leftover paints, search for a local donation program, or find a friend, relative, or neighbor that could use it. You can even donate them to your local schools or art programs.
Proper Disposal Tips
If you must throw away your leftover paint, don’t just toss it in the garbage. First, dry the paint out, let it sit open or stir in some clumping kitty litter, concrete mix, or sawdust to speed up the process. If you have a large amount of paint you may need to get a special paint hardener. Once it’s dried out it can be thrown away (as long as it’s solid). Check the dried paint’s composition and your local laws to see if it can go in the garbage, if not you’ll have to find a disposal location that will take it.
If you have more questions about proper paint disposal, you can call the store that you purchased the paint from, or a local home improvement retailer and ask them for tips on how you can properly dispose of your leftover paint. Many hardware stores will have paint recycling programs or at least the proper equipment to dispose of it without harming anyone or our environment. For any more question about what you can and can’t throw into your dumpster rental, call us at Dumpster Rental Inc!
