Tips on Recycling Paint

Here are some pointers to help you prepare your paint for recycling:

1. Keep different paints separated—Check the label to see if your paint is oil-based or latex. Avoid mixing these types of paint under any circumstances. Keep them separate, because they cannot be recycled together.
2. Consolidate partial cans—This is assuming you have the time, a good screwdriver and lots of rags. Keep point #1 in mind before you consolidate (keep oil-based paint separate from latex paint). Consolidating will mean less cans to transport, and larger containers can be poured into a 55 gallon drum by your recycler. Smaller cans must be packed individually, and it costs more money to dispose of them.
3. Handling dried paint—If your can is completely dried out, you don’t have to worry about taking it to a recycling facility/event. Plunge a screwdriver into dried paint to make sure there’s no liquid underneath. If you decide to place dried paint cans in the trash, make sure you leave the lid off. You can also clean out all the remaining paint residue and recycle the steel cans.
4. Pack up your cans—Before you load paint cans into your vehicle, check for leaking cans and pack these with newspaper. Try to keep labels on the cans so recyclers can identify them without opening.
5. Do some research—Use Earth911 to find a local paint recycler. If you can’t find one, consult your local household hazardous waste coordinator. Be sure to ask questions, such as whether there are limits on the amount you can bring. Some programs will take appointments to save you time.