Top 10 Safety Tips on How to Get Rid of Old Paint

How to Get Rid of Old PaintGot an old painting project that you haven’t done in a while? Maybe some old cans stored up in the garage that you haven’t used yet? What about if you’re involved in the manufacturing industry? Paint is certainly useful, but unused wasteful paint can actually be really harmful. Worse still, disposing of paint can get . . . complicated. So if you have some extra cans lying around, here’s some advice on how to get rid of old paint.

For this and other great waste removal tips, rely on KenBay to have the info you need. We commit ourselves to a zero-waste initiative, and encourage other companies to follow suit. visit KenBay’s website today and learn about our wide assortment of compactors available. 

How to Get Rid of Old Paint (And Other Safety Tips)

  1. Check what kind of paint it is

    There’s basically two kinds of paint we’re concerned about: oil and latex. Latex is water based and very safe to store. Most of the paint you encounter for home use is latex based. Oil paint is highly toxic and flammable and should be handled with care. For these tips, we’ll be separating them into oil and latex categories.

  2. Oil: Do NOT throw away in the trash

    This is important with latex paint as well, but even more so for oil-based: do not just throw it away in the garbage! Oil paint could ignite easily and deal some serious fire damage to whoever is handling it.

  3. Oil: Do not store  for too long!

    Equally as important: while you can store latex paint for a long time, oil paint will eventually reach an expiration limit. Once that occurs, it can emit dangerous toxic fumes.

  4. Oil: Take to a proper facility which handles HHW.

    Oil paint is classified as a HHW, which stands for Household Hazardous Waste. There are facilities specially handled to dispose of these kinds of materials. Find one in your local area to take your oil-based paint to.

  5. Check your drop off-time

    While you’re searching for an HHW disposal facility, make sure you check if there are any special regulated drop off or pickup times.

  6. Latex: When Possible, Recycle Your Old Paint

    Latex paint can be stored for a long time, but don’t let it go to waste on your shelf! It is possible to recycle old paint at special facilities. Find one in your local area! Or repurpose leftover paint for some other project. Perhaps there are some small toys in need a color touch up?

  7. Latex: Donate to someone else in need.

    If you can’t (or don’t want to) recycle your paint, see if someone else can use it!

  8. Latex: If possible, move into a smaller jar or can.

    If space is your main concern, it is perfectly fine to move your excess paint into a smaller mason jar or old soup can. Make sure you cover the lid completely with something like saran wrap so that it doesn’t dry.

  9. Latex: Turn into a Dry Solid First

    If you simply must dispose of your latex paint, don’t make a mess by pouring it into the trash. Instead, harden the paint first. Let it sit outside with the lid open and the sun will take care of the rest. After the paint is hardened, it is perfectly safe to throw out, along with the old can.

  10. Latex: Mix with Newspaper or Cat Litter to Speed Dry

    For the impatient among us, simply mix the old paint with shredded newspaper, sawdust, or cat litter. The material causes the paint to dry faster, and you will be able to dispose of it quicker.

We hope you found these tips on how to get rid of old paint useful! For non-paint related waste, trust KenBay to have the compactors you need. Our RotoPac can handle any major waste challenge with ease. If you want to experience one for yourself, you can try it before you buy it. 

Make Life Simple and Get Your Paint Disposal Checklist

Paint Disposal

Paint disposal or storage can be a daunting task whether you’re dealing with a small home supply or an industrial facility with various paints and solvents to consider.  With just a few protocols, you can be sure that your paint disposal is always safe and environmentally sound, no matter the quantities you’re handling. Taking care of your paint disposal in the proper way will do more than just ensure the safe handling of hazardous waste, it will also save you money in long run, and reduce risk in either your workplace or home.  

Reduce Your Need for Paint Disposal

Whether you’ve recently repainted your house, or work in the autobody business and go through gallons every day, proper paint disposal is equally important to consider. But before you get to that step, there are many measures you can take to reduce the amount of waste you have when the job is done. First, make sure that you can return any unopened paint cans or spray bottles. You will not only get reimbursed and save yourself some money, but it will also ensure that the paint actually gets used instead of thrown away. Safely store some of the leftover paint in a cool dark location for touch ups, and be sure it is tightly sealed. You can even switch it into smaller airtight containers to save space or get a better seal. Properly stored paints and solvents will usually remain safe to use for up to ten years, so give them a permanent home that is out of the reach of the kids. There are also ways of re-tinting paint to use it for new or different purposes than you originally bought it for.

Leftover Paint Disposal

If there is still paint or solvents (often used for cleaning) that you cannot repurpose or save for future use, you will need to find the proper means to dispose of them. These materials are usually considered liquid hazardous waste, so they cannot go in the dumpster. Call your local waste sector to find out how you ought to handle paint disposal, which will typically involve a certain kind of airtight container for paint. It will also have to be kept separate from the rest of your waste and recycling to ensure that contamination does not occur.

Solid Waste in Paint Disposal

A paint can or spray bottle is considered empty if it has less than one inch of paint at the bottom of it. Empty the vessel by either pouring or pumping the paint out of it, and once you have done this, it is considered recyclable, in which case you take the usual measures to separate it out from landfill waste. If paint cans are a significant portion of your waste, you might want to consider investing in a trash compactor that will help you consolidate the otherwise non-pliable materials to save time and money on your recycling efforts. A trash compactor will reduce the size of your waste at a rate of six to one.

When tackling your paint disposal process, keep these things in mind. If you’re dealing with paint disposal on a large scale, call KenBay for an expert opinion on your particular waste management needs.