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Options for Old Paint and Paint-related Materials
When
no longer usable many materials painters work with are
considered hazardous waste. These materials include:
ignitable wastes, such as solvents and other cleaners;
paints and paint thinners, adhesives and glues; and
toxic wastes with heavy metals. In Minnesota, ANY amount
of business-related hazardous waste is regulated—no
matter how small. These regulations include licensing,
managing and reporting requirements from the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or a Twin Cities county
hazardous waste office. This fact sheet provides information
on how to effectively reduce and manage these wastes.
Waste
Reduction
Businesses can practice a number of simple techniques
to reduce waste and remain competitive. Often labeled “good operating procedures,” the following
techniques help your company reduce waste and keep a
competitive edge in the industry.
Best
Estimates
Over-estimating the paint needed for a job costs a painter
twice: once for the raw materials and again for disposal.
Ordering the right amount of paint sounds basic, but
is not always easy to do. Order enough paint for the
first half or three quarters of the job and then re-estimate
the job at the halfway point. While an additional delivery
may be necessary, but you save money because you are
not buying more than is needed for the job.
Inventory
Control
Unusable inventory also costs a painter for the raw
materials and again for disposal. Follow the product
label directions for shelf-life limits and proper storage
conditions. Remember, inventory is a major investment.
Scheduling
Think about how job and employee schedules can be arranged
to reduce the need for equipment cleaning. Poor scheduling
often results in cleaning between tasks, shifts and
color changes, and cleaning becomes a major source of
waste.
Record
Keeping
Record keeping develops consistent procedures, and reduces
guesswork and mistakes. Successful ideas must be recorded
for businesses to review and improve on successes.
Maintenance
Painters depend on their tools. Poorly maintained tools
can reduce transfer efficiency. The result is redoing
work, which means wasted effort and wasted raw material.
Buy
Recycled
Several companies such as Amazon Environmental and Hirshfield's Paint Manufacturing make latex paints by recycling old paints. Advancements have recently been made in the area of recycled and/or remanufactured paints. Consider using these commercial grade coatings to save money and prevent old paint from being wasted.
Training
Training promotes efficient and consistent work habits.
Trained workers perform tasks correctly and may have
the best ideas for reducing waste. Training opportunities
for painters are increasing. One new training tool is
a laser pointer which attaches to any spray gun assisting
the user with aim, gun-to-part distances, and overlap
targeting. MnTAP’s Web site includes links to several
training options. Trade associations, equipment suppliers,
paint dealers, and local technical colleges are also
good sources for professional training.
Leftovers
If waste or unwanted materials have accumulated at your
facility consider the following options for disposal
and avoid accumulating excess materials in the future.
Donate
Community or high school theaters, and community fix-up
projects are generally looking for donations of unopened,
one-gallon cans or larger quantities of light-colored
latex paints. Also, with customer approval, small quantities
of paint may be left at the job site as touch-up paint.
Identify
Usable Materials
Material
that is useful should be logged into inventory for use.
- Use old paint as a base coat or
primer. Mix the same or similar types of paint when
mixing different colors.
- Reuse the clean parts of the thinner
after it has separated from the contaminants.
Inventory
Your Facility
Check for unopened materials and return unwanted, usable
materials to the distributor or manufacturer. Develop
agreements with your vendors to make this a routine
procedure.
Materials
Exchange
Materials exchange services can connect you with others
who can use your unwanted specialty and industrial coatings.
The Minnesota Material
Exchange, coordinated by MnTAP, can list your unwanted
materials online.
Recycle
Latex Paints
Amazon Environmental and other businesses have waste collection programs that remanufacture latex paint. A recycling collection fee may be required, but good quality light-colored latex paint may be recycled without a fee. Contact these companies, your solid waste officer, or MnTAP for additional information on latex paint recycling.
Waste Management
Even when waste is successfully reduced some will still
be generated. The MPCA considers paint waste hazardous
until properly evaluated and shown as nonhazardous. Recycling latex paint or other materials as a "feedstock" saves businesses money and is a favorable alternative
to disposal as a hazardous waste. See the MPCA fact
sheet Recycling Hazardous Waste—Feedstocks, By-products
and Sludge [#2.42]. The following section addresses
proper management of unavoidable liquid and solid wastes.
Liquid
Wastes
Liquid wastes can be pumped, poured and handled relatively
easily and are usually the least costly to manage. Unusable
liquid materials (wastes) which must be disposed of
include: oil-based paints, stains and consolidated bulk
liquids.
Consolidating.
While consolidating offers some advantages, mixing products
together changes the ability to rely on manufacturer
information contained in the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS). Paint remanufacturing companies prefer receiving
materials separated based on color and usability to
assure quality of their products. An MSDS, available
from product vendors, contains product information that
will help disposal companies determine whether or not
they can manage the waste material. Laboratory sampling
and analysis often will be required to evaluate components
in random mixtures before they can be managed and/or
disposed.
Compatibility. The ability of liquids to mix together—especially
with water, acid and alkaline materials—presents
special safety problems because of potential chemical
reactions. If you have any doubt about compatibility
seek advice from vendors, consultants, your transporter
or disposal facility. Compatible liquids may be consolidated
into 55-gallon U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
approved shipping drums—check with your permitted
hazardous waste disposal facility for specific requirements
before consolidating liquids.
Combustible
materials. Combustible materials, such as oil-based
paints and stains, and other petroleum-based liquids
are often used as alternative fuel sources at permitted
hazardous waste disposal facilities. Waste waterborne
(latex) paints have little or no combustible value and
should be managed separately from other liquids.
You
may be able to sewer washwater from latex paint cleanup
and waterbased cleaners. Disposal into storm sewers
or septic tank systems is not permitted. Check with
the MPCA or your local treatment plant for permission
and restrictions.
Very
old latex paints that contain mercury-based fungicides
(typically phenyl mercuric acetate) must be tested or
handled as a hazardous waste and should be managed separately
from other material.
Solvents
and thinners. In large amounts, solvents and thinners
can be managed separately from other wastes for recycling
purposes. Your disposal company can provide you with
disposal costs that compare separated wastes and combined
wastes.
Note:
Paint strippers and other chlorinated solvents, such
as methylene chloride, should always be managed separately.
Chlorinated solvents, even in small concentrations,
can effect disposal options and add significantly
to disposal costs.
Nonliquid
Waste
Unusable, nonliquid wastes include: nonpourable materials
or cured hardeners, cements, epoxies, adhesives and
glazes. Often these materials cannot be separated from
the container. Disposal will often require placing the
entire package into a larger shipping container or “lab
pack.” Disposal of lab packed material is expensive
and should only be used if materials cannot be consolidated
together (for example, sludges or dry paint). A hazardous
waste disposal company should be contacted for specific
information on lab packing.
Dry
latex paint. Small quantities of dry latex paint
may be placed in the trash in small quantities. Consult
your solid waste hauler for approval. No liquid may
be present.
Empty
containers. Outlets for recycling empty containers
(plastic and metal) are available. Because requirements
vary, contact outlets directly to find out their requirements
for accepting empty containers. Most require containers
be completely empty—use a stiff kitchen spatula
to thoroughly clean out the containers. If an outlet
is not available ask your solid waste hauler if it will
accept containers.
Spray
paint cans and other aerosols. Pressurized and spray
containers that are not empty, but are waste, are subject
to hazardous waste disposal rules. Keeping nozzles unclogged,
will help companies empty the containers and comply
with hazardous waste disposal requirements.
To
prevent nozzle tips from clogging invert the can after
each use and spray the nozzle to clear any residual
paint. Clogged aerosols may also be fixed by cleaning
or replacing the nozzle tip. Aerosol cans with clogged
nozzles may be emptied using specially designed equipment.
Residues from cans containing the same materials may
be collected and reused. Add residues from cans containing
different materials to other compatible wastes.
Businesses
can lower purchase costs and reduce or eliminate empty
container disposal costs by using reusable aerosol containers.
Reusable aerosol containers or pump sprayers may be
used to spray a variety of liquids that are available
in bulk packages, such as solvents and cleaners.
Additional
Resources
Contact the MPCA
Customer Assistance Center at 800/657-3864
or 651/296-6300, or the appropriate Twin
Cities county hazardous waste office listed below.
Twin
Cities Area Hazardous Waste Offices:
Anoka County: 763/422-7093
Carver County: 952/361-1800
Dakota County: 952/891-7020
Hennepin County: 612/348-8100
Ramsey County: 651/773-4466
Scott County: 952/496-8177
Washington County: 651/430-6655
Latex
Paint Recycling Companies
Amazon Environmental,
Roseville, Minnesota
Contact John Segala
at 651/636-5486, toll free 877/636-5486.
Hirshfield’s
Paint Manufacturing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contact Steve
Blomberg at 612/374-0254.
For
additional information on recycled latex paint visit
the Minnesota
Office of Environmental Assistance Recycled Latex Paint
Web page.
Technical
Assistance. MnTAP, a nonregulatory business assistance
program at the University of Minnesota, can help you
reduce the amount of hazardous waste that you generate.
MnTAP
has a variety of free publications available on reducing
your wastes and improving efficiencies. Below is a sample
of resources available from MnTAP.
For
More Information
MnTAP has a variety of technical assistance services available to help Minnesota businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that maximize resource efficiency, prevent pollution, increase energy efficiency, and reduce costs.Our information resources
are available online or, call MnTAP at 612.624.1300
or 800.247.0015 from greater Minnesota
for personal assistance.
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