What makes paint hazardous

But household is the keyword here. If you live in one of nine places, things might be relatively easy. PaintCare is a nonprofit organization representing paint manufacturers. It operates collection programs that allow you to take leftover paint to a collection site for recycling usually a designated paint retailer. More pertinent to this discussion, PaintCare also offers a service to households that have gallons or more of leftover paint to dispose of.

They will come and pick it up. Check it out here. If you live in one of the other 42 states, things are a bit more complicated. That would be us. For you DIY zealots, the most common advice is to mix latex paint with kitty litter, allow it to solidify, and then just treat it as trash.

But obviously, if you tried that with a few hundred gallons of leftover latex, the local feline population might have to go without, as it were.

Besides, latex paints are easily recycled. Consumers can also call the Nebraska Department of Health at or their local health department. The Joint Paint Industry Coordinating Council has published a pamphlet discussing what consumers should do if they suspect their home has lead-based paint. Disposal of Household Paints. If paint can't be used up, recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste collection, storage or disposal are last resort options.

Solidification and Disposal. Small quantities of unusable paints less than half-a-gallon , that have dried and solidified are usually considered a household waste material and are accepted check first at most permitted landfills. Contact your area landfill operator or Health Department for information on disposal of the hardened material and if it is accepted. To solidify the paint, allow the liquid to evaporate in an OPEN, secure, sheltered place in a SAFE manner away from flames, children and pets; and then dispose of the hardened material.

To dry the paint faster, pour one half inch layers into an absorbent material such as kitty liter or sand to speed up drying. Do not use newspapers or other ignitable materials especially for solvent-based products because of the potential for spontaneous combustion.

Paint products are not designed to be emptied into storm sewers, household drains especially if you have a septic tank or on the ground. If the latex paint cannot be solidified, recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste collection activity or site, some wastewater treatment plants may allow you to discard very small quantities into a sink with plenty of water.

Contact your wastewater treatment plant for information. To discard paint pour it down a sink drain and flush with plenty of water. The latex paint discarded in this manner should not contain mercury-containing biocides, lead or other heavy metals. Do not flush paint into a septic system as the impacts of the pigments and other materials are not completely understood. Never dispose of waste paint into a storm sewer. Solvent-based or alkyd paint.

Solvent-based or alkyd paints require special disposal practices. Solvent-based paints are ignitable and present particular hazard.

Recycling solvent-based or alkyd is not as common. If solvent-based paint cannot be used up, recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste collection activity or site, the only other acceptable ways to manage it are to solidify it and dispose of the solid residue at a landfill or store it safely out of reach of children, tight lid and in a well ventilated area until a collection activity or opportunity to reuse is available. Contact your area landfill operator for information on whether dried solvent-based paint is accepted.

Some areas do not recommend solidification of paints due to concern for air quality and pollution. Aerosol Paint. Give remaining paint to neighbors or community organizations. If it is partially full and cannot be used up or given away, save it for a household hazardous waste collection.

Paint Related Products. Paint thinners, turpentine, mineral spirits and other solvents can be reused. These products, like solvent-based or alkyd paints, should not be emptied into storm sewers, household drains or onto the ground.

Reuse or use up these types of products. Recycling and disposal alternatives vary depending on the composition. Read the label or contact the manufacturer for more information about specific products. Paint Thinner or Turpentine. Use these up or give them to someone who will use them up, recycle, or take to a household hazardous collection activity or site. To reuse thinner, allow any accumulated particles to settle to the bottom or filter through a fine mesh filter.

Pour off the clear thinner into another container with a lid and label clearly for reuse example: old paint thinner can. Discard the leftover residue when completely dry. Take precautions -- avoid potential spontaneous combustion accidents when disposing in trash can. Methylene Chloride or similar base: use this up or give it to someone who will use it, recycle, or take to a household hazardous waste collection program.

If those options are not possible, small quantities of the stripper may be evaporated. If a product containing methylene chloride must be used indoors, even in a garage; open all windows and doors and use a fan to exhaust the air outside during application and drying. Lye base -- sodium hydroxide: use up. Small quantities diluted at least may be flushed down a drain not a storm drain or septic tank.

Paint Brush Cleaner. Solvent-based: use up. Reuse by preparing in the same manner as paint thinner or turpentine. TSP trisodium phosphate : use up. If using up, recycling, giving away or taking to a household hazardous waste collection are not possible, very small quantities may be evaporated.

These solutions are flammable so do not dispose of them in the trash or down the drain. Wood Preservatives. Metal based such as copper or zinc naphthenate : Use up or save for hazardous waste collection.

The human and environmental impact of disposal of these preservatives is not fully understood. Pentachlorophenol PCP or penta : Do not use. Avoid all exposure. Do not attempt to dispose. If you have some of this product, package it carefully to prevent spills, label clearly and save it for a household hazardous waste collection program.

Preservatives containing pentachlorophenol may be contaminated with a form of dioxin, a toxic compound. Paint Cans. Empty paint cans with a dry film are recyclable in steel can recycling collection programs. Empty aerosol cans can be disposed of with household trash, if aerosol can recycling is not available.

Specialty or Hobby Paints. For specialty household and hobby paints, handle appropriately as either solvent-based or latex-based paints. Check the label or contact the manufacturer for more information. The paint industry is attempting to address environmental issues such as volatile organic compounds, paint recycling, and toxic metals. The paint industry and government have been working to reduce volatile organic compounds VOCs.

At least one company has introduced a new interior latex paint which does not emit VOCs. New products being introduced in the paint and coatings industry include low-VOC formula paints, more water-based products including stains, sealers, varnishes and other clear coatings, paints made of recycled post-consumer product, and wood cleaners with low VOC levels.

There is no completely safe method for "do-it-yourself" removal of lead-based paint, according to the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Each of the paint-removal methods - sandpaper, scrapers, chemicals, and torches or heat guns - can produce lead fumes or dust. Fumes or dust can become airborne and be inhaled. Further, dust can settle on floors, walls, and tables, and can cause problems. It can be ingested by children from hand-to-mouth contact.

It can re-enter the air through cleaning such as sweeping or vacuuming or by movements of people throughout the house. Lead-based paint should be removed only by professionals, trained in hazardous material removal, who follow detailed procedures to control and contain lead dust. Lead-based paint may be found on any interior or exterior surface in an older home, particularly on woodwork, doors, and windows.

Heavily-leaded paint was used in about two-thirds of homes built before , one-half of homes built from to , and some homes built after In , the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission lowered the legal lead content in most paint to 0. Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children and can also affect adults. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage and can result in impaired mental functions. Lead poisoning in children can result in retarded mental and physical development and reduced attention span.

In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body, and may cause problems with reproduction such as decreased sperm counts.

Lead poisoning may also increase the blood pressure in adults. Retarded fetal development can occur at even low blood lead levels. Thus, unborn children, infants, young children, and adults with high blood pressure have been identified as being most vulnerable to the effects of lead.

Consumers themselves cannot tell whether their paint contains lead. Before removing old paint, have the paint checked for lead content. Some local or state health or housing departments can suggest which private labs or public agencies can test your paint for lead or how to obtain a sample for testing.

If testing is unavailable or costly, consumers should assume that older painted surfaces contain lead. Lead-based paint should be removed only by professionals trained in hazardous material removal.

Consumers should not attempt to remove lead-based paint. Any attempt to remove lead-based paint may create a serious hazard in the house. A trained professional must follow very detailed procedures to minimize, control and contain lead dust generated by the removal process.

Homeowners should obtain the HUD interim guidelines and assure that contractors use them. Homeowners should question contractors about their familiarity with the following procedures: The room should be sealed from the rest of the house. All furniture, carpets and drapes should be removed.

Workers should wear respirators designed to avoid inhaling lead. No eating or drinking should be allowed in the work area. All food and eating utensils should be removed from the room. All cabinets as well as food contact surfaces should be covered and sealed.

Children and other occupants especially infants, pregnant women, and adults with high blood pressure should be kept out of the house until the job is completed. Clothing worn in the room should be disposed of after working. The work clothing should not be worn in other areas of the house.

Debris should be cleaned up using special vacuum cleaners with HEPA high efficiency particle absorption filters. A wet mop should be used after vacuuming. In children, lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span.

It can also retard fetal development even at extremely low levels of lead. In adults, it can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body. Lead poisoning may also cause problems with reproduction such as a decreased sperm count.

It may also increase blood pressure. Thus, young children, fetuses, infants, and adults with high blood pressure are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead. In communities where the houses are old and deteriorating, take advantage of available screening programs offered by local health departments and have children checked regularly to see if they are suffering from lead poisoning.

Because the early symptoms of lead poisoning are easy to confuse with other illnesses, it is difficult to diagnose lead poisoning without medical testing. Early symptoms may include persistent tiredness, irritability, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, reduced attention span, insomnia, and constipation. Failure to treat children in the early stages can cause long-term or permanent health damage.

The current blood lead level which defines lead poisoning is 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. However, since poisoning may occur at lower levels than previously thought, various federal agencies are considering whether this level should be lowered further so that lead poisoning prevention programs will have the latest information on testing children for lead poisoning.

Eating paint chips is one way young children are exposed to lead. Keep pregnant women and young children away from freshly painted rooms. Keep paint cans tightly closed when not in use. Not only are the health risks greater with solvent-based paints, there is an added danger of fire.

Keep used rags in sealed containers until you can dispose of them. Keep paints and other hazardous supplies out of children's reach. After You Paint Ventilate freshly painted areas for hours days. Children, individuals with breathing problems, and pregnant women should avoid freshly painted areas for days. Save small amounts of leftover paint for touch-ups. HazoHouse does not accept latex paint. Latex paint can be placed in the trash after contents have been dried up or solidified.

Liquid latex paints and stains can spill while awaiting collection or during the collection process. Paint leaking into trucks and onto roadways poses tremendous cleanup challenges. Any liquid or soft paint will be left as unacceptable by trash collection crews.

Remove lids from cans so your hauler can see that the can is empty or contents are solidified. Tips for Reducing Mildew Painting over the mildew that grows on your siding hides the ugly black fungus temporarily, but it will quickly reappear.

Here's how: Never paint over existing mildew. Scrub it off with a mixture of one part bleach and three parts water. Always prime bare wood, which mold needs for nutrients. Paint experts recommend a high-quality acrylic-latex primer. Apply two substantial topcoats of satin-finish paint to seal off the siding.

Avoid flat-finish paints, which are more porous, and use darker colors if possible. Avoid painting when it's breezy. Airborne mildew spores can get into the fresh paint. And, because brush marks can trap nutrients that mildew feeds on, smooth paint out. Apartment managers: Give advance notice to neighbors that a unit is to be painted. Inspect painted units to ensure that ventilation is maintained during painting and for at least 2 to 3 days afterwards.

Loan box fans to residents who are painting their apartments. Problems may be reduced if all apartments being painted, as well as neighboring apartments, are vented to the outdoors with box fans. Choosing Low VOC Paints Many paint manufacturers have formulated paints that are either solvent-free or very close to it. A Hint About Tints If you are having your paint color specially mixed, note that most paint stores add standard ICI tints to the white paint brand you have selected.

Common Sense Gardening. What are Household Hazardous Materials? Local Vendor. Ace Hardware Olympia. Kelly Moore Olympia. Parker Paint Olympia. Sherwin Williams Olympia. Links Sustainable Building Sourcebook — greenbuilder. Paint Disposal at HazoHouse.