Recycling Latex Paint Tips
When running a professional painting company or supply, you are undoubtedly going to run into over order issues. Sometimes it is just impossible to accurately estimate just how much paint is required for a project, as it is always a good idea to order more, than not enough. If the color is common, using the left over on future projects is wise as it cuts down on the overhead for the additional work assignments. However, eventually there isn’t anything your company is able to do with the leftovers, so cleaning out the remnants and making room for fresh supplies is required. Proper disposal of latex paint is necessary to prevent damage to local water supplies and the environment.
To increase the life of the company’s paint supply, and to make it easier to recycle, store the leftover paint upside down. This keeps the paint fresh and helps avoid excess paint sticking to the sides of the containers. Furthermore, avoid storing the paint in high temperatures, as this causes damage to the containers and also creates toxic fumes from the latex.
Contact your local waste management facility. These companies specialized in the correct disposal of harmful goods, including latex paint. It is often necessary to go through these companies as many Provinces have laws against improper disposal of latex paints. It is often a crime to pour chemicals, including latex paint, down a sink or to simply toss the paint into a trash can. Failure to properly dispose of your company’s latex paint may result in prosecution, especially if your company disposes of a large amount of paint.
Avoid mixing other chemicals with the latex paint. If you have other supplies that need disposal, it may seem like a good idea to mix everything up so fewer containers are required. This is illegal in many states, as the fumes created are extremely toxic, and it is hard to tell exactly how the chemical compounds may react to one another. Additionally, it makes it rather difficult to dispose of, as different chemicals have different disposal practices, so the combination makes it hard on a waste management facility. It is possible to combine paint containers though, as this is all the same material, so feel free to mix as much of the paint as you choose, in order to reduce the total number of containers, as it makes it easier for transport purposes.
Keep the latex paint completely sealed when taking to the waste management facility. You don’t want the paint to spill everywhere, especially when transferring the material over to the waste management company.
Drop off the latex paint containers to the waste management facilities on the weekdays, preferably early in the morning. Waste management companies generally se more activity as the day progresses, so if you don’t want to wait in line, it is a good idea to drop off the material early. Of course, different waste managements may have different timetables, and may only collect certain materials during specified times of the week. If this is the case, call ahead before venturing out to double-check. You don’t want to make the drive out to the facility, which typically is not located near the city center due to possible contamination and fumes, all for nothing. The waste management facility id dedicated to large, industrial suppliers of latex paint looking to properly recycle and dispose the by product. If you are an individual, you can still follow these steps for securing the latex paint, but take the product to a local paint disposal service (such as a hardware store or service center).