How to Recycle or Dispose of Paint & Stain

---

With an estimated 12.7 million gallons of paint thrown out each year in Illinois, responsible disposal is now a major concern. At PACER Decorating in Wheaton, we believe in recycling paint and disposing of hazardous household waste properly. This keeps harmful chemicals out of landfills and the water supply.

Throwing out leftover painting materials with your regular trash collection can negatively impact the environment in these ways:

• Harm fish and wildlife and contaminate their food chain.
• Contaminate ground water.
• Disrupt microbes and cause sewage treatments to be more costly and less effective.
• Clog sewer and septic systems.

There are many types of painting materials that need proper disposal. These include: latex paint, paint thinner, stain, oil based paint, polyurethane, epoxy, paint thinner, varnish. Sealers, paint additives, and solvents are also considered household hazardous waste.

Did you know…

• Over 3,000 tons of latex paint waste is added to Illinois landfills each year.
• Every year about 14 million paint cans and containers are dumped in Illinois landfills.
• It is estimated that the average U.S. household has 3-5 gallons old paint stored in their homes.

Earth Paints Collection Systems has developed a system of collecting and consolidating leftover latex paint that allows it to be recycled into new consumer products. This includes recycling of both the paint and the steel cans that hold it. The company is located in Grayslake, Illinois and provides paint recycling services in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

To find a collection center for latex paint recycling.  You can also check with your local Ace Hardware store as some will accept leftover paint.  Did you know that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has determined that latex paint is not toxic? This means that latex paint is no longer accepted at household hazardous waste collection events or the regional household hazardous waste disposal facilities.

On its website, the Illinois EPA shares these things you can do with extra latex paint.

To dispose of oil-based paint, stain, varnish, paint thinner, aerosol paint, and cleaners, you should take them to the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Naperville.

The Regional Facility does not accept latex paint.

• DuPage County Recycling
• City of Wheaton Recycling
• Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Naperville
• Illinois EPA Recycling