One Small Step: Smart Paint Disposal
Before the holidays many families try to spruce up the old homestead with fresh paint (both exterior and interior). But what to do with left-over paint? Toss it?
Nope; paint poured into your drains or outside will harm streams, groundwater supplies and soil due to runoff and chemicals. Not to mention; if you pour it outside, animals and kids may find it and get sick.
- The best first step would be to use safer, less toxic paints. One of my favorite magazines, Mother Earth News had a wonderful article last year that discussed earth-friendly paints including how to make your own. There’s also a full gallery of photos.
- If you do a lot of painting save your leftovers. Unless you’re using key-lime for everything (please say no) than all your old paints mixed together will tend to create a dullish gray color can be re-used as a primer for other projects.
- Use it up. Let the kids use it with small brushes for art, paint birdhouses or bookshelves; donate it to a school or community center.
- Give it to a hazardous waste collection organization. Ask your local trash or recycling program where to go.
- Bulk paint is no bargain. I very rarely say, “Don’t buy in bulk” but anything that’s toxic is going to be something I do say that about. If you only need to paint the porch rails, don’t buy a gallon because it’s less money per unit. That’s not a bargain for the planet.
What small green steps do you take when decorating?
Tags: art_paint, bargain, birdhouses, bookshelves, collection_organization, drains, earth_friendly, fresh_paint, gray_color, groundwater_supplies, hazardous_waste_collection, key_lime, leftovers, mother_earth_news, runoff, toxic-paint, toxic_paints, tree hugging familyRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Earth Friendly Living Ideas, One Small Step, Recycle, Sustainable Building
2 opinions for One Small Step: Smart Paint Disposal
Peggy
Sep 28, 2007 at 12:37 am
Here’s a little tip: if you need to buy a lot of paint, you can ask for a contractor’s discount. It never hurts to try. It worked for me. I’m not a contractor, but felt like one with the last house I had.
Also, new homeowners love it when you leave paint (as long as it’s not too old) after you sell a house. It’s nice for touch-ups and it might prevent someone from having to repaint an entire room because they could not match your color.
Jennifer
Sep 28, 2007 at 11:00 am
You can actually try that tip for all kinds of building projects. When I built a house I told people that I was a home builder all the time and got discounts (which was true because home building I was). That tip for leaving paint is a great one. As long as you make sure to date and label it.
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