So, you need to get rid of some paint – how’s the best way to approach this without polluting the environment and getting fined for improper paint disposal.
Learning how to dispose of paint correctly is essential for anyone who is renovating, giving their home a freshening up, or even just painting furniture or a deck during the summer. The issue with paint is that it’s often left unfinished in the can. Before long, you have a garage full of unfinished tins of paint making a big smell. Do you chuck it in your household trash? Do you need to take it to some kind of a special recycling centre?
So, whether you have a whole collection of the best paints for furniture, or you’ve repainted all of your walls and still have some leftover, here’s how to dispose of paint the right way, according to a painting professional.
1. POUR THE LEFTOVERS INTO MASON JARS
Mason jars provide the perfect place to store paint. Transferring your paint into a mason jar means that you’ll be able to dispose of the paint can by recycling it, but you can reuse your paint at a future point and store it in a much nicer container. Mason jars are great because they’re easy to store, pretty and simple to pull out of a cabinet if you have a scratch or ding you need to paint.
2. TRY TO ONLY BUY THE PAINT YOU NEED
It’s much easier to dispose of an empty can of paint, so buying as close to the exact amount you require is always the best course of action. You will need about 1 gallon of paint for about 350 square feet per coat of paint. If you need 2 coats, you’ll need double that. Doing the maths on how much paint you’ll need ‘upfront ensures that you have very little paint left over.’
Top tip: if you're painting your entire house, go for the largest can you can get, usually a five-gallon. That way, you'll have one can to recycle afterwards!
3. WHY NOT HARDEN THE PAINT BEFORE TAKING IT TO YOUR LOCAL RECYCLING CENTRE
If you can’t find a suitable new home for your unused paint and want to dispose of it, do not put your paint in the bin or heavens forbid pour it down the drain. Instead, you will need to either take your paint to a recycling centre or arrange for a special collection of your paint.
CAN I BE FINED FOR DUMPING PAINT?
Yes. Illegal dumping/illegal waste disposal are offences subject to fines and, in extreme cases with repeat offending, even subject to felony charges. You have to dispose of paint correctly to avoid these unpleasant consequences. Fortunately, as we’ve seen, there are quite a few options for disposing of leftover paint safely and correctly – the fact that you can help charities with your paint donations is even better.
So, for all your home improvement ideas look no further than the team at Johnsons. Call us today on 0121 706 0404 or email sales@johnsonstimber.co.uk.