Properly caring for paint is important to reduce groundwater pollution, so it is necessary to think about how we get rid of our unwanted paint.
Oil-based paint, stains, and varnishes are hazardous whether dried or liquid and should be taken to a household hazardous waste collection. Check out our collection events page on our website for Van Buren County collection details.
Latex paint is not a hazardous waste! It is a water based solution and once it has dried, it can be disposed of at home. The Van Buren Conservation District is no longer accepting latex based paint at our collection events due to the increased costs of disposal for materials that are not deemed as hazardous.
Try the following tips and tricks to reduce and care for landfilled paint.
⬇️Reduce- Only buy the paint you absolutely need.
🔄Reuse- Donate your unused paint to friends, neighbors, or try local hardware stores or Habitat for Humanity Restore
🗑Dispose- Dispose of unused paint at home.
❗️Important note: Paint must be dried out into a solid to be disposed of with regular trash. Let the paint dry with the lid off in a well ventilated area. You can also add kitty litter, saw dust, or mulch to speed up the drying process.
If you have any questions regarding paint disposal or recycling in general, please call 269-633-9314 or email ResourceRecovery@VanBurenCD.org.
