What
do you do with your leftovers? At a restaurant, you probably bring
them home in a doggie bag to enjoy again at another meal. At home,
you carefully wrap your leftovers so you can keep them fresh for later.
Did you know that what's good
for food is also good for paint? Many people don't, because far too
much perfectly good leftover paint ends up in our nation's landfills.
It doesn't even need to be an issue for our environment at all, because
leftover paint isn't a waste product, and, when stored properly, it
stays fresh for years.
That is why you should know
about the National Paint & Coatings Association's Six-Point Program
for Leftover Paint. It helps the environment, and, it saves you money.
What could be better? So, we hope you'll join us in our commitment by
following these six simple steps:
1. When getting ready to paint,
buy just the amount you need to do the job. When you avoid buying too
much at the start--what's called "source reduction"--there's
less chance that leftovers land in the trash later.
2. If you do have leftover
paint, store it so it lasts for years. Just cover the opening with plastic
wrap, and make sure the lid fits securely so the paint doesn't leak.
Then store the paint can upside down! This creates a tight seal, and
keeps the paint fresh to use again.
3. Use up all your leftover
paint. It's great for touch-up jobs and smaller projects. You can also
blend and mix smaller quantities of similar colors of latex paint to
use as a primer on larger jobs, or jobs where the final finish is not
critical. Make sure you read and follow all label instructions when
applying paint.
4. After you use up the paint,
what next? Always recycle the empty paint can, of course, following
the can recycling procedures in your community. Plastic paint pails
and containers may also be recycled in some areas, so check your community's
guidelines.
5. If you just can't use your
leftover paint, donate it or exchange it. Community groups, theater
groups, schools, churches and others can use your leftover paint, and
you may even be able to take a tax deduction! And you can participate
in -- or organize -- a neighbor-to-neighbor or community-wide paint
exchange/paint swap. Some communities hold these as part of household
waste collection events.
6. As a last resort, if you
need to dispose of your leftover paint, make sure you do it properly.
Let your leftover latex paint air dry away from children and pets. One
method is to pour the latex paint into a paper box or bag, and add absorbent
material such as shredded newspaper and cat box filler to speed drying.
Recycle the empty can, and then throw the dried paint away with your
normal trash. (Note: If you live in California, Washington or Minnesota,
your state may require special disposal considerations for latex-based
paints, so be sure to check.) Air drying liquid solvent-based paint
is generally not recommended, but if the paint has already solidified
in a closed can, you can dispose of it in the regular trash. Liquid
solvent-based paint should not be discarded with normal trash. Instead,
save it for a special paint collection program or household hazardous
waste program in your community.
Working together, we can make
sure that leftover paint stays out of our landfills...and that's good
for our communities, our nation and our environment!