Homeowners know that any painting project is that is going to end with a few half-empty gallons of paint left unused. It’s wise to keep some leftover paint around in case it is needed for touch ups, but it won’t last forever, and it occupies valuable storage space. So, what is the best way to get rid of old paint?
At House Painting of Colorado, we use Mix Paints to recycle leftover paint into new, reusable, affordable paint. We skip the landfill and put our paint right back to work. But this is probably not an option for most homeowners. You’ll need to take a more traditional route.
Many Denver charities and community organizations happily accept paint donations. Schools, churches, amateur theaters, and similar groups are excellent places to contact if you have enough paint to make donation worthwhile. If donation isn’t an option, then it’s time to safely dispose of the paint.
If your paint is water-based, the first thing to do is dry it out inside the can. Remove the lid and place the can somewhere it won’t be disturbed by pets or children. The solvents will eventually evaporate, and the remaining paint will harden. If there is more than a quarter-gallon left, you can accelerate the process by pouring absorbent kitty litter in. Once the paint is dried, you can safely dispose of it in your garbage.
Oil-based paints and stains are quite different. Your options are limited. These materials are hazardous waste, and must not go into the regular garbage. Instead, call your local landfill and find out if they accept oil paint. Some communities in the Denver area have established days when hazardous material is collected at schools or libraries.
At Zenith Painting & Coatings, we carefully plan ahead to eliminate waste on our projects, and we are careful to dispose of leftover paint in full compliance with local and state regulations. As a professional residential and commercial painting company, we strongly believe in doing what’s best for our community. Our green painting options are evidence of that, and we encourage you to call us at 800-381-4601 to learn more about them.
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