How To Properly Dispose Of Paint
Let’s start out by saying, everybody loves the look of a freshly painted home. That being said… a common question asked when someone is looking to dispose of the leftover materials: “Can I put my wet paint, or paint cans, in the trash bin?” The answer to that question is yes and no. If the paint is absolutely dry it can be put directly into the dumpster. Wet paint has to be dried out, and if you do not enjoy watching paint dry, we have some tips to help speed up the process. The tips below are fairly easy, and there are a couple ways to go about it.
Recommended Disposal Method
The most common way to dispose of paint is to simply mix the wet paint with cement and let it dry (this tip is specifically for 1 gallon of paint; receipt can be adjusted to handle as much as needed). To do this you will need a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a lid, bagged cement, and a sturdy stir stick. Begin by pouring the wet paint into the plastic bucket, then add the dry cement mix. Use the sturdy stick to thoroughly mix the paint and cement mixture to a thick milkshake texture. Once you have finished mixing, set the bucket of cement paint and the empty paint can out to dry. And you’re done! Prior to loading it into a bin, make sure to place a lid on it so none of the color mix spills into the dumpster.
Easiest Way to Dispose of the Paint
Another way to get rid of the paint is to simply let is cure. This will be difficult to do if it’s left in the can, so you can spread it out on any cardboard box, plywood, or a section of old carpet, increasing the surface area of the paint so that it dries faster. In the meantime, whip out the can opener and paint brushes to spend a few minutes painting the items you are disposing of.
Most Environmentally Friendly Disposal
Recycling paint is the best and most environmentally friendly way to get rid of it. The downfall to this is that it can be expensive and potentially hard to find locations that accept wet paint. You could call your local transfer station, county landfill, or sanitation department to see if they service paint recycling or disposal.
If you are feeling philanthropic, there are some charities that will accept paint for their use. Some of these organizations include Boy Scouts (they tend to run on a limited budget) or Habitat for Humanity, which takes in reusable construction and painting materials to build houses for those in need. Another option is Global Paint for Charity (located here in Atlanta), where the program takes leftover paint for volunteers to use on houses of the elderly, veterans, and widows so they can keep their properties looking nice without having to pay associated fees. They also ship paint overseas and to cities all around the United States.
Proper paint disposal prevents the hazardous chemicals from leaching onto out waterways, drinking & food sources, and our habitat overall. Call 833-GET-AVID for assistance in your next home project, email info@avidcontractors.com, or just click on our logo below.
