According to one study, about 94% of Americans say that people should be recycling. However, only about 34% of Americans actually do.
If you’re in the percentage who actually does recycle and you have some leftover paint, don’t throw it away.
Not only can it be chemically harmful to the environment, but it’s also wasteful. Instead, you can try finding paint recycling centers that can take care of it for you.
Know What Kind of Paint You’re Recycling
First, you should probably have some kind of idea of what paint you’re going to be getting rid of. There are two types of paints: latex (water-based) paints or solvent-based (oil) paints.
To find out which paint you have, you can read the label, and there will also be instructions on how to clean up the paint if you spill it. Even if it doesn’t say exactly which paint it is, you should be able to tell based on the cleanup instructions.
If it doesn’t say, you can also try to see if the paint dissolves in water or not. If it dissolves in water, you have latex paint. If it doesn’t, you have a solvent-based paint.
Knowing which one you have will help you figure out which recycling center to take it to.
Harden Your Paint First
Before you get rid of your paint, you’ll need to harden it first so that it doesn’t spill everywhere.
Buy some kitty litter and mix it with the paint; this is great for hardening the paint. Try and buy the most absorbent brand you can find. Kitty litter works especially well for oil-based paints.
Find a Recycling Center
Once you’ve hardened it, now you can find a recycling center to give it to.
There are some companies like Habitat for Humanity and PaintCare that will come pick it up and recycle it for you. You can also search Google for recycling centers near me.
You’ll likely find examples of recycling centers just like Coastal Recycling Services.
If You Can’t Find a Center
In the event that you can’t find a center near you, don’t worry! There are other things you can do to make sure that you don’t waste the paint or harm the environment.
One option could be to just save the paint in case you need it in the future. If you’re not going to need it, try asking your neighbors or friends if they will have a need for it. Sometimes you can also sell it even though it’s used.
You can also try donating it to local art studios or other companies who are trying to repaint.
Learn More About How to Find the Best Paint Recycling Centers
Hopefully, you can find one of these paint recycling centers near you and do your part for saving the environment!
We know that recycling can be tricky, especially since it always seems like the rules are changing for what you can and can’t recycle.
Thankfully we have you covered! If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this!
