Latex paint accepted for recycling
Latex paint accepted for recycling
Kristine Major, Waste Prevention Educator, 509.625.6521
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 12:57 p.m.
Residents can now drop off their unused latex paint at Spokane’s Waste to Energy Facility (WTE) for recycling under the new PaintCare program in Washington state. Fees charged for the sale of color products in Washington now support this nationwide takeback program.
Since latex paint is not a hazardous material, the disposal regulation in the past was to dry it out and throw it in the trash. Under PaintCare, latex paint can now be collected for recycling and reuse. PaintCare locations such as the WTE facility accept house colors as well as primers, stains, sealants and clear coats such as shellac and lacquer. Unused paint in good condition, along with other household and garden products, can also be made available to residents on the reuse table.
To be accepted for delivery, latex paint must:
- be in the original packaging with the manufacturer’s imprint visible
- be safely covered with the original lid
- be no larger than 5 gallons
Opened or leaking cans will not be accepted. Up to 15 gallons per visit is accepted by the residents for delivery. Companies and contractors can contact PaintCare directly to arrange pick-up or commercial drop-off locations. The WTE plant accepts hazardous household materials and now also latex paint, only from residents.
The settling of paint at WTE keeps this material out of the waste stream. Materials collected in the PaintCare program, such as latex paint, are processed into new paints or, depending on their condition, reused for other purposes.
The recycling drop-off area at WTE is open 7 days a week, except on public holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 509.625.6580 for more information or visit our website. Residents can learn more about Washington’s PaintCare program online, by email, or by calling (855) PAINT09.