Don’t Paint Yourself Into an Eco-Unfriendly Corner
From just off white to mango orange, most people utilize paint to personalize their home. Based on this, It’s not surprising that paint is the most collected household hazardous waste at events across the country. There’s nothing wrong with jazzing up your living room or giving that old door a fresh coat; just be eco-wise while doing it. The following guide will help you learn the basics of responsible painting:
1. Pre-Store Preparation
Purchasing the appropriate amount of paint eliminates the issue of storing or recycling excessive leftover product. It will also save you money. Before going to the store, carefully measure the area you will be painting. Don’t forget to subtract the area of the windows.
As a general rule, one gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of surface area with one coat, but it is a good idea to speak with a paint specialist at the store. Just make sure you go prepared with your measurements.
2. Choice of Paint
There may be a zillion color choices, but there are also numerous eco-friendly paints available.
The EPA lists indoor air as one of the five leading health risks faced by Americans. Many paints and finishes contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and may release low-level toxic emissions into the air. VOCs carry the paint pigment and create “that paint smell” as they evaporate.
Recent environmental regulations have limited the amount of VOCs that can be present in a paint, and most manufacturers offer low or zero VOC paint. There are also various natural paint brands, which often use renewable resources and leave out chemicals and toxins.
Another option is to purchase recycled latex paint. Although there are some brands of 100 percent recycled paint, many are a mix of recycled and standard. The added virgin paint is usually white, which creates more coloring flexibility (just as with standard paint, more pigments are added to create specific colors).
3. Proper Storage
Finally finished? Check the amount of paint left over at the end of your project. If it is a very small amount, find a way to use it. If you still have a fair amount, store it properly:
- Cover the can opening with plastic wrap
- Securely seal the lid
- Record the room name and date on the lid the paint to make touch-ups easier
- Turn the can upside down to help prevent paint from drying out and sealing over (when flipped back over, the film that has accumulated on the top of the paint is sent to the bottom)
- Keep it in a moderate-temperature room away from children and pets
- Avoid storing cans directly on cement floors because the bottom of the can will rust more quickly
4. Reuse or Recycle
If you can’t reuse the paint yourself, try giving it to someone else:
- Friend or neighbor
- Non-profit organization
- Theater company
- School or day care
To find paint recycling locations, use Earth911. Recycled paint can be very useful. Latex paint can be processed to make other products such as concrete blocks, or it can be reprocessed into new paint.
Oil-based paint can be burned as fuel to produce energy (although
expensive). The steel cans are also recyclable if all traces of paint
are removed.
5. Proper Disposal
If there is not a paint collection program available in your area, you may need to dispose of leftover latex paint yourself. Never dump paint down the drain and never mix your paint waste with other chemicals, such as cleaners or degreasers.
If the paint is hardened, discard the can with the lid off, preferably in a metal recycling program. If metal recycling is not available or the container is plastic, it may be thrown in the garbage (lid off).
Sources:
“HC6 Storing and Disposing of Paint From Your Home Factsheet.” Environmental Protection Agency. 2007. http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/p2/pdf/HC6web.pdf
“How much paint do you need?” http://home.families.com/blog/how-much-paint-do-you-need
“Non-Toxic Paints.” Earth Easy. http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm
“Recycled Latex Paint.” California Integrated Waste Management Board. http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Condemo/Paint/#WhyUse