How you can properly dispose of paint cans

How you can properly dispose of paint cans

If you look in almost any homeowner’s garage, you’ll probably find a half-empty paint can or two.

You know you can’t pour the leftover paint down the drain and you can’t toss it in the trash without risking environmental damage and potential harm to the sanitation workers.

So how do you get rid of old paint?

drop-off site

Spend some time locating your nearest hazardous waste facility, and see if they accept paint.

Or mark your calendar for any community “roundup” days, when temporary sites are set up for collection.

Some states have paint stewardship laws that allow paint retailers to accept leftovers. The stores take leftover paint during regular business hours, making paint recycling and disposal much more convenient and safe.

Let it dry out

If there’s less than a half-inch of paint left, take the lid off and let it dry out until it becomes hard.

Make sure to keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

“Then it’s OK to throw away in the trash,” says Greg Mrakich, owner of Greg Mrakich Painting in Indianapolis.

Don’t try this with oil-based paints because they have too many fumes.

Mix paint in kitty litter

If there’s more than a half-inch of latex paint left in the can, stir in cat litter or a paint-hardener compound you can purchase from the hardware store. After you mix it in, let it sit in the open for a day and dry out. Then it’s OK to toss it in the trash.

Tribune News Service