At a restaurant, you probably bring your leftovers home in a doggie bag so you can enjoy them again as another meal. At home, you carefully wrap leftovers to keep them fresh for later. What's good for food should also be good for paint. Yet, too often, perfectly good leftover paint ends up in landfills. This creates environmental problems - unnecessarily. You see, leftover paint isn't really a waste product. If stored properly, it will stay fresh for years. Whether your employees are painting at work or at home, here are six things they need to know about how to deal with leftover paint.

1. Don't Over-Buy

The best way to avoid leftover problems is not to buy more paint than you need to begin with. This is a principle called source reduction. It involves buying just the amount you need to do the job by following the manufacturer's recommended calculations, taking into account coverage rates and the number of coats needed.

2. Properly Store Your Leftovers

Store your leftover paint in the original container with the label intact. If you've blended the paint, store the blend in a metal container that is properly labeled. Do not use food or beverage containers for storage.

3. Reuse Your Leftovers

There are plenty of uses for leftover paint. It's great for touch-up jobs and small projects. You can also blend and mix smaller quantities of similar color latex paints to use as a primer on larger jobs, or jobs where the final finish is not critical.

4. Recycle the Empty Paint Cans

Once you've completely used up all the paint inside, recycle the empty can. Follow your community's recycling procedures. Plastic paint pails can also be recycled in some areas. So check your community's guidelines.

5. Air-dry Latex Paint

If, as a last resort, you still need to dispose of your leftover paint, make sure you do it properly. First, air-dry leftover latex paint - away from children and pets. You can pour latex paint into a box and add absorbent materials, such as shredded newspaper or cat box filler, to speed the drying process. Once dried, the paint can be thrown out with the normal trash and the empty can recycled. Some states, such as California, Washington and Minnesota, require special disposal consideration for latex-based paint. So be sure to check your community's waste guidelines.

6. Don't Air-Dry Solvent-Based Paint

Air-drying of solvent-based paint is not recommended. If the solvent-based paint has already solidified in the can, most regions will allow you to discard it in the normal trash, leaving the paint in the can and the lid on. Liquid paints should be taken to your community's Household Hazardous Waste Collection point.

Conclusion

Working together, we can keep leftover paint out of our landfills. And that's good not just for you, but for everyone in your community.

PAINTING & SAFETY

Tips for Avoiding Accidents

By Barry R. Weissman, REM, CSP, CHMM, CHS-III

Catherine has asked me to add some suggestions about how to paint safely to the above article. How could I turn her down? If you plan to do some painting - at home or at work - take the following precautions:

Use your tools correctly:

• Open paint cans with a paint-can opener, not a screwdriver or claw hammer;
• If you're spray-painting, use the correct type of respiratory protection; and
• Don't stand on the top step of any ladder.

If using an a-frame ladder, make sure you:

• Use one that is tall enough so you don't have to use the top three steps;
• Open the ladder fully; and
• Make sure the ladder is on a firm, level surface.

If using an extension ladder, be sure to:

• Keep in mind that extension ladders are not designed to use the sections separately;
• Position the ladder at a 75 degree angle from the wall;
• Use the diagram on the side of the ladder or do the following:
  • Set the ladder in place against the wall or building;
  • Stand facing the ladder with your toes touching the feet of the ladder and raise your arms, so they are parallel to the ground; and
  • If the angle of the ladder is correct, your fingers should just be touching the side-rails.
• If you have to get onto a roof or other level, use a ladder that will extend at least three rungs higher than your level. This provides you with a handle to assist with the transition; and
• Most importantly: TIE OFF THE LADDER to the building or have a helper block and steady the ladder while you climb.

If using solvents to clean oil or alkyd paints:

• Do not smoke;
• Do not use the paints indoors or near sources of heat or flame; and
• Dispose of rags and solvents properly. These wastes can usually be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste day that many towns sponsor, unless these are from industrial sources and then check with your Environmental Department.

Story Tools:  E-mail this to a friend  Print This Post Top