Ask the Carpenter: How to dispose of leftover paint
Rob Robillard gives you the do’s and don’ts.
Q. I am moving and have three partial gallons of latex paint left over from a recent project. How do I dispose of it? Who takes it? Thanks.
HOWARD STARTHIE
A. Every few years I clean out my basement workshop and end up having to wrestle with a dozen half-used paint cans. Some of the paint is good, and some is not or a long-forgotten color.
Disposing of liquid paint down the drain or in the trash poses environmental problems. The cans can get crushed in the trash truck, spilling paint on the street.
There are several ways to dispose of latex-based paint, and I will discuss four of them:
Use it up
Many times I find myself purchasing more of the same color. In this case, I simply add the old to the new, a method called “boxing,’’ and then try to use it all up or store what’s left. I typically use a clean 5-gallon bucket to box the paint, pouring the mixture back into the original containers afterward.
Donate it
If you have cans of unused latex paint or paint left over that is in usable condition, donate it to a community service organization or theater group. My local theater is always looking for good paint.
Try a municipal paint-collection program
Once a year my town offers a hazardous waste collection day, and this is a great time to get rid of your oil-based paints and stains. Latex paint isn’t hazardous, but oil-based paints are considered “hazardous household waste’’ because they have volatile organic compounds, are flammable, and may contain lead, mercury, chromium or cadmium. If you’re unsure whether your paint is oil-based, check the label. (Oil-based paint requires you to clean your brushes with mineral spirits or paint thinner.)
Dry it and dispose of it in the trash
Latex is the most popular paint on the market, accounting for about 85 percent of paint sales in the United States. It is preferred by most do-it-yourselfers because of the ease of cleaning up with soap and water.
Latex paint can be disposed of in your trash — if dry. Drying latex paint is easy to do and can be accomplished in two ways:
■ Air drying — works well for a small amount, which you can place in the sun to dry.
■ Cat litter, which accelerates drying for large quantities.
For larger amounts of latex paint, mix equal parts cat litter into the latex paint can. If you have more than half a can, you can pour the paint into a 5-gallon bucket for mixing.
Stir the cat litter into the paint until it has an oatmeal-like consistency that will not spill out. Allow the mixture to sit for one hour or until dry. Once dry, you can put the dried paint in the can. Put the can out with the garbage with the lid off. Trash contractors will not take paint cans if the lids are on.
Rob Robillard is a general contractor, carpenter, editor of AConcordCarpenter.com, and principal of a carpentry and renovation business. Send your questions to [email protected] or tweet them to @robertrobillard. Subscribe to the Globe’s free real estate newsletter at pages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp.
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