Suzanne Potter, producer/reporter, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
This Saturday is “America Recycles Day” and the nonprofit PaintCare is making it free and easy to get rid of the leftover paint in your garage or shed. According to the Product Stewardship Institute, 10% of the U.S. house paint purchased each year, about 80 million gallons, goes unused. Rather than throw it out, Californians can bring it to one of more than 800 drop-off sites around the state, many in hardware or paint stores.
Terri Marsman is California Program Manager for PaintCare.
“Recycling your leftover paint is easy and convenient,” she said. “If you need to visit a drop-off site near you, please visit our website at PaintCare.org. 99% of California residents live within 15 miles of a drop-off site, so there’s likely one close to your home.”
Many of the drop-off sites are available seven days a week, year-round. The PaintCare program has collected more than 40 million gallons of leftover paint in California since its inception in 2012. PaintCare will pick it up for free if households or businesses have more than 100 gallons to donate.
Marsman said the program also accepts sealers and varnishes. The complete list of products they accept is all on the PaintCare website.
“We take latex paint, oil-based paint, and stain,” she explained. “As much of it as can be reused is reused, and the stuff that we cannot reuse is sent to be recycled or used for an alternative product.”
The PaintShare program makes good-quality, leftover paint available through some reuse stores or household hazardous waste facilities. Other paint goes to a processing facility to become recycled-content paint or to be put to some other beneficial use.
