What Happens Next to Paint
When latex paint is recycled, it is most often reprocessed or re-blended into new paint. Here’s a quick summary of each product:
- Reprocessed paint is mixed with virgin materials, tested and then packaged for distribution or sale. Pigments can be added to change the color.
- Re-blended paint is remixed, screened and packaged for distribution or sale. It typically comes in basic neutral colors because it is a mix of other types of paint. It can be used for interior/exterior painting, graffiti abatement and local improvement projects.
By purchasing either of these forms of recycled content paint, you are proliferating a market for paint recycling. The Product Stewardship Institute provides a list of recycled content paint products you can purchase. Some of these manufactures include:
- Amazon Environmental, Inc.
- Calibre Environmental, Ltd.
- Dunn-Edwards
- Kelly-Moore Paint Co.
- Local Color
- Visions Recycling, Inc.
Because oil-based paint is burned for fuel instead of reprocessed, the resulting product is energy.
