When Reed doesn't have to dispose of excessive quantities of paint, he can ride his scooter, and that's more environmentally friendly. That's why JS Painting Company is meticulous about bidding out just the right amount of paint for every job.
At the end of most all house painting projects there is some leftover paint or stain. Usually it's a good thing to have some touch up paint just in case something happens between major paint jobs, but sometimes you end up with more paint than you really want to deal with or you've been gradually collecting it in your basement. When you find yourself with excess paint it should be reused on a different project, donated or recycled.
Before you do anything with your leftover paint, check the label. Paint manufactured before 1978 could contain lead, many paints made before 1991 could contain mercury. Both materials should be listed on the paint label. Paints containing lead or mercury should be taken to a household-hazardous-waste collection facility.
Some city/municipalities offer recycling programs for old paint and empty paint cans. Water-based, or latex, paint can be recycled into new paint or it can even be used to create nonpaint products such as cement. Oil-based, or alkyd, paint is usually used for fuel blending—meaning it's burned to create energy at a power plant. To find out whether paint recycling is an option in your area, contact your municipal recycling or household-hazardous-waste center.
Once latex paint is dried it can be safely disposed of in the garbage, or local a waste facility. Paint cans can also be dried out and disposed. Water-based paint is treated as hazardous in only a few states—including California, Washington and Minnesota—and is still generally accepted at hazardous-waste facilities Oil-based paint is always considered hazardous and should be disposed of at a household-hazardous-waste collection facility.
If you work with JS Painting Company, we'll take care of these things for you! But if you find yourself in a place where you need to take care of it yourself there are some things you should consider.
Don't dump paint down your drain - it's bad for septic fields, can overwhelm sewage treatment plants, or create hazards at any dumpsite. If you've got latex paint, you're in luck because you can dry it out and toss it in the trash. If it's only a small amount you can let it air dry, but if you've got more then you might want to use a product that dries the paint out - you can buy little packets at the paint store for a few dollars. With larger quantities of latex paint you probably want to go to a hazardous waste facility. The same goes for oil - go to the hazardous waste facility! It costs about 7 bucks per gallon to get rid of your oil paint.
There is a paint recycling location at 1350 N 34th St Seattle, WA 98103. It is run by "Waste Management" and you can find them at http://www.wmnorthwest.com/seattle/contactus.html
If you're looking for a household hazardous waste facility there is one at 12550 Stone Ave N Seattle, WA 98133. It is government run and you can find them at http://www.lhwmp.org/home/HHW/disposal-locations.aspx
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