So you've finally repainted the kitchen—but now you're left with a quarter gallon of paint that you know you'll never use again. Maybe you've even got a few resealed paint cans stored in the garage. Isn't it about time you got rid of them? Leaving them on the sidewalk for sanitation to pick up is the easy way out. If you want to wipe your hands of leftover paint the responsible way, either give it away/swap it or dispose of it properly.
TO GIVE IT AWAY OR SWAP IT:
1. Seal it properly. Cover the top with plastic wrap, then put the lid back on and press it down until you know it's secure. (A can of paint that's sealed the right way can last for years.) Then store the can upside down until you can find it a new home.
2. Give it away. There are lots of people who'd be glad to accept your fresh, leftover paint. For example, try donating it to community centers, schools, churches, or any place where you know there are limited funds.
3. Swap it. Either organize or get involved with a community paint exchange program, also called a paint swap. This involves setting a date and place for neighbors to meet and bring along their leftover, usable paint. The paint is then sorted and redistributed to neighbors by desginated volunteers.
TO DISPOSE OF IT:
1. Remove the lids from latex paint cans, pour the paint into a paper bag, and let it dry in an open-air space (not indoors). Make sure it's out of reach of children and pets. Try speeding up the drying process by adding shredded newspaper or kitty litter to the bag.
2. Throw away the dried latex paint with your regular trash. Latex paint is not a hazardous material. (If you live in California, Washington, or Minnesota, check your state's special regulations for throwing away latex paint.)
3. If you need to get rid of non-latex, solvent-based paint that is still in liquid form, log on to www.paint.org to find out more about a paint collection program in your area. Whatever you do, don't be impatient and throw it away in the regular trash. This is very bad for your health and the environment.
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