7 Tips for safe paint disposal of leftover paint from Just Add Paint:

If I had a dollar for every can of old, crusty paint I have been asked to get rid of by a homeowner I would be a rich man (or at least own a MUCH larger television). Sometimes the paint has been sitting in a shed freezing over and over again, sometimes the paint is stashed in the attic, and most often it can be found on a shelf in the basement. Oftentimes paint cans are the only items left in the new home you have just purchased, and people want them GONE! Our single house record is 62 cans in case anybody is wondering. There are several options for proper paint disposal:

1. This is technically not a paint disposal option, but if your paint is still good always keep some for touch up. It is a hard pill to swallow, but a new can of the same paint you have in your basement will not end up looking EXACTLY the same. So if there is ANY chance you will ever need a touch up KEEP IT!

2. DONATE IT. This is by a long shot our favorite method for paint disposal. There are countless great options for places that can make use of your leftover cans. In the past Just Add Paint has made donations to local arts centers and a theater group – these are particularly good options for partial cans and the rogue “zany” accent wall color. The ReStore in the Harrisburg, PA area is another great option for paint disposal. This store is affiliated with Habitat For Humanities and will sell the paint at a deep discount to someone who is in need, and then use the proceeds for their charitable organization. We donated over 60 gallons there last year, and this is an excellent option for any unopened or “barley opened” gallons you might have. They also take materials from other construction trades and put them to good use. Check them out here http://harrisburghabitat.org/home/restore/ 

3. RECYCLE IT: Sadly Central Pennsylvania is not on the forefront of the environmental movement, and we do not have any local facilities that recycle paint. However, many places in other parts of the country do (particularly on the West Coast and in larger cities). Check your local listing on this.
4. UPCYCLE IT: AKA find something to paint! Believe it or not this is a very popular trend right now. Most of what I am reading about involves painting furniture. HGTV.com actually managed to compile a list of 50 DIY PROJECTS that can be done with a leftover can. Check them out here http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/1-can-of-paint-50-new-diy-projects-pictures
5. THROW IT AWAY: Most people are unaware that this is an option. While it is certainly not the BEST option for paint disposal, it is allowed in most areas for LATEX PAINT as long as the paint is hardened. Methods for hardening paint include: Using a paint hardener that can be bought at your local Sherwin Williams or hardware store, mixing paint with kitty litter until all liquid is absorbed (typically a 1:1 ratio of kitty litter to paint), or allowing paint to sit uncovered until it dries out. Allowing paint to dry works best when paint is poured into a container at a thickness of no more than 1”.  The type of plastic container you would use to store left over wrapping paper in works best for large amounts.

6. HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL CENTER: Oil-based paints are considered hazardous waste and must be taken to a hazardous waste disposal center regardless of what part of the country you live in. There is typically a fee associated with this, but don’t let that discourage you – the fee will be much less than the fine associated with getting caught putting hazardous materials out with the rest of your trash!

7. PAY TO STORE IT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE CENTER FOREVER: Pardon the sarcasm – but this is where most professional painters store the giant stockpiles of leftover paint they have accumulated over the years. If you ask your painter if he can “do something with your old paint” and he refuses this is most likely the reason why. Please encourage them to donate, and thank you to the homeowner who suggested this to Just Add Paint so many years ago ~

I hope this list for paint disposal has been helpful! If anyone has any other ideas that may have been missed, please let us know. Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/justaddpaint/, and let us know if there is a subject you would like to hear more about.

**Just Add Paint is a residential paint company from Camp Hill, PA serving Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, and the Harrisburg Area**