Do you have leftover paint?

Do your part to help improve the environment by following the 3 R's...

REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE!

By following these simple steps YOU can make a difference.

1. Buy Only the amount of paint you need for your project

Be a smart consumer and buy only the amount of paint needed for your project. With a little time spent on planning you can save yourself money and eliminate the need to store excess paint. Your local paint dealer can easily assist you in determining the correct amount of paint you will need for your project. 

2. Store your paint properly to reuse later

Need your leftover paint for touchups later? Proper storage can also save you money later on when you have small touchups you would like to do.

For best results, clean the rim of your paint can thoroughly, cover it with plastic wrap and secure the lid. If you are certain that the can is leakproof, store it upside down in a place with mild temperatures to avoid freezing. Always remember to store out of the way where children or pets may have access. 

3. Use your leftover paint when possible

There can be many uses for leftover paint. It can be used as a primer in applications where the base coat color is not critical. Small amounts of colors can be blended and mixed for kids' art projects and crafts. Or, if you had to buy an entire gallon of paint for that one accent wall in your home, share it with a friend who also likes the color and can use it in their home.

4. Recycle it

If you cannot use the paint yourself, try and find a place that will accept your donation. Many theatre companies, church organizations, community art studios or other local organizations may be in need of good paint. Call around, many communities offer events to collect paint for reuse or even offer paint exchange events.

5. Dispose of your paint properly

If all else fails, you may need to dispose of the leftover paint yourself. For small amounts of latex paint (less than 1/2"), the lid can be easily left off and the paint will dry out. For larger volumes of latex paint, pour absorbent material such as clay-based cat litter, shredded newspaper or sawdust into your container (Note: 1/2 gallon at a time is recommended as volumes greater than this will take a considerable time to dry)  

Once the latex paint is dry (depending on the amount this could take a day or 2 weeks), simply dispose of the dried material in your regular trash. If you dispose of it in the metal paint container, be sure to keep the lid off.

Remember:

Air-drying alkyd or oil-based paint is not considered safe and cannot be disposed of in your regular trash.  

These types of paints can be brought to your local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for proper disposal.