By Allied Waste Services,
a Republic Services Co.

Sprucing up your house is easy with paint. Applying a fresh coat of paint or a new color of paint can change the feel of your home. When considering what color to choose, take into consideration the type of paint. There are several types of paint products on the market and many can be harmful to humans and the environment. The most common used are Latex, water-based and oil-based paints. Latex is the least harmful of the three.  The following are tips for being Paint Wise and reusing, recycling or properly disposing of your paint:
Minimize the quantity of
paint you use:
•    Buy only what you need by calculating the correct amount of paint needed. The paint specialist or retailer should be able to assist you with your calculations.
•    Continue painting your project until all the paint
is gone.
•    Use up any leftover paint on another project if possible.
•    Consider using leftover paint as an undercoat (not as a primer) if you have a bright colored wall needing to be painted a lighter color.
•    Pour paint into another container to keep paint fresh. This minimizes the introduction of mold or bacteria into the paint resulting in spoilage of the leftover paint.
Reuse or Recycle your paint:
•    If you have leftover, unwanted paint in good condition, consider contacting a local high school drama department, a church or a local charity to see if they will accept paint for reuse.
•    Nonprofit organizations may be interested in leftover paint as well. Habitat for Humanity chapters and Keep America Beautiful affiliates are a couple of nonprofit organizations you can contact.
•    Empty paint cans are recyclable and can be placed in your recycle can/cart. A container is considered “empty” if no paint can be removed with a brush or by holding it upside down.