Thank you, PaintCare for sponsoring this post! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Since I became a homeowner, I’ve been working on a few new paint projects, from fresh paint for our garage door to our most recent project, our little jungle nursery for Atlas. Unfortunately every project I’ve completed has left me with a growing collection of leftover paint, sitting in storage, taking up space. I was really excited to learn about PaintCare, a non-profit that sets up programs to recycle your leftover paint.
PaintCare will accept and recycle house paint, primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings like varnishes. The best part is that it’s just a two-step process, so simple. Just search for drop-off location using their site locator (linked here) and drop off your paint (at this time, PaintCare is only operating in 10 states: CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, OR, RI,VT and WA). In my experience specialty item recycling programs charge a fee, but all PaintCare drop-off sites are free! This is made possible by a small fee on the sale of new paint sold in PaintCare states.
Before my research, I had no idea you could recycle old paint, and I immediately was curious how it works and what they do with the paint. PaintCare states, “paint is managed according to a policy of highest, best use. This means that some of the better-quality paint is made available to consumers through reuse programs, and most of the paint is recycled. If it can’t be reused or recycled, processors find the next best use for it. Latex-based products make up about 80% of what PaintCare accepts at drop-off sites. Most of the paint is sent to processors and used to manufacture recycled-content paint products. Some latex paint is used for concrete mixtures, landscaping materials, or as a component of daily cover for landfill management. A small percentage of dry latex paint is securely disposed of if no other use can be found. Oil-based products make up about 20% of the products collected at PaintCare sites. All of these products are sent to processors, and most of it is used as fuel. In some states, a small percentage of oil-based paint is recycled into new paint products. Paint containers are separated by type, metal, and plastic. Most containers are sent for recycling by paint processors. Some containers are sent to a landfill if they cannot be recycled.”
I’m so happy I learned about this program, because now I don’t have to store and wait for our hazardous waste pick up day that comes once a year. Instead all of my leftover paint will be given new life.
Learn more about the other products PaintCare accepts here.
xo,
