How to Dispose of Oil-Based Paint

Let's face it, painting is exhausting. After a long day of raising your arms above your head and dodging paint drips, the only thing you want to do is clean up quickly and rest. Unfortunately you need to build some time into your schedule to properly dispose of your paint, especially if it's oil-based.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Know what type of paint you have on hand. If you're clearing out old paint, check to see if it's water-based or oil-based. These products have very different disposal techniques. If clean-up requires turpentine or mineral spirits, it's oil-based paint.

2. Decide how much is left and if it's worth keeping. Sometimes it's nice to have a small container on hand for touch ups. You may have enough left over to do someone else some good, so you may be able to sell it at a yard sale or donate it to a charity. Other times you may just need to dispose of the rest properly.

3. Remember these are hazardous waste materials. Not disposing of them properly could result in fines or prosecution, not to mention the harmful effects on the environment.

4. Take caution when handling the paint or anything you used to clean up after your project. The paint itself is flammable as are any cleaning rags with paint, turpentine or mineral spirits needed to clean up the paint.

5. Contact your local waste disposal company and ask about special days where hazardous materials are picked up. If that's not offered, they'll likely know of an organization that can help.