How to Dispose of Paint

Looking for professional paint disposal services? Look no further than HazChem Environmental! With over 30 years of experience, we specialize in providing efficient and environmentally friendly paint disposal services for businesses, government facilities, and other entities. Whether you require paint disposal or paint recycling, we’ve got you covered. We can also handle paint thinner disposal. Read on to learn more about how to dispose of paint from your facility.

Used Paint Disposal

When it comes to disposing of leftover paint, many people assume it’s a simple task. After all, storing that extra can of latex paint in the basement for touch-ups seems harmless. However, proper paint disposal or paint recycling is essential, especially for larger quantities and commercial settings.

If you’re dealing with small quantities of latex paint, the EPA recommends exposing it to air or mixing it with shredded newspapers to allow it to solidify. Once dried, you can dispose of it with your regular household garbage. Keep in mind that this method is suitable for households only, which includes residences, hotels, motels, and other similar establishments. Industrial manufacturing plants require a different approach for paint disposal.

Latex Paint Disposal

Unlike hazardous waste, latex paints are generally not considered hazardous themselves. Consequently, hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) typically don’t accept them. This makes latex paint a bit more challenging. But don’t worry, we’ve got the expertise to handle it.

For DIY enthusiasts, mixing latex paint with kitty litter until it solidifies and treating it as regular trash is a commonly suggested method. However, this approach is not practical for larger volumes of old latex paint. The good news is that latex paints are highly recyclable. The solids from the paint can be extruded, melted, and pelletized to be used as colorants or additives in other recycled polymers. Several companies are eager to accept your leftover latex paint and transform it into something new that they can sell.

Oil-Based Paint Disposal:

You may be familiar with oil-based paints, which consist of pigment particles suspended in oil. These paints offer a smoother and glossier finish compared to latex paints, making them appealing to many. However, there are specific considerations when it comes to oil-based paint disposal.

Oil-based paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as mineral spirits, naphtha, and lacquer thinners. These substances can be harmful to the environment, especially when they vaporize and contribute to ozone depletion. Consequently, oil-based paints are subject to stricter regulations and should be treated as hazardous waste.

Industrial Paints Disposal:

If your operations involve aerospace, automotive, electronics, or other specialized industries, you’re likely using industrial paints for specific purposes such as heat resistance or rust prevention. These paints are formulated with various resins, solvents, additives, and pigments, and proper disposal is critical.

Determining whether your leftover industrial paint qualifies as hazardous waste can be complex. While individual constituents may not be listed as hazardous, they can possess characteristics such as corrosivity, ignitability, reactivity, or toxicity, which then classifies them as hazardous. To make matters more challenging, accurate determination becomes difficult if the paint is accidentally mixed with other waste, requiring additional chemical analyses.

Expert Advice and Assistance

Navigating the world of hazardous waste management and complying with EPA regulations can be overwhelming. That’s where HazChem Environmental comes in. If your business, organization, or government agency needs assistance with paint disposal or paint recycling, we’re here to help. HazChem offers Emergency Response Team Services 24/7/365. Other Waste Transportation Services are available.

Trust the experts at Hazchem for efficient and compliant paint disposal services.

SUPER-FAST 60-Minute Response Time

We understand the urgent and critical nature of your call for service. Our Emergency Rapid Response Teams are ready, willing and able to respond quickly to remedy your emergency situation. Our Emergency Response Vehicles are pre-loaded with 90% of the equipment needed for any emergency situation. The final 10% will be added for your particular needs. This advance preparation enables us to deploy a Team within 60 minutes or less from our facility. Based upon our clients’ feedback, this is far better than the typical response time from most of our competitors. Their response is usually measured in multiple hours, and sometimes days or even weeks. Our Team is always ready to deploy, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, rain or shine, including holidays. We do not rely on automated answering systems for our main phone line (630) 458-1910. Instead, we guarantee that a live person will answer your call, regardless of whether it is a weekend, holiday, or any other day.

We are always open: Call (630) 458-1910 for IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

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