Storing and disposing of your leftover paint and empty containers
It is important to safely and properly store your leftover paint in order to save it for further use (touch-up jobs, smaller projects or to add another coat). You should also dispose of dry or surplus paint and empty containers in a manner that reduces the burden on our environment. Below are some ideas to help you get started:
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To ensure longer paint life, avoid transferring contamination from the surface you are painting back into the paint bucket with your brushes or rollers. To keep the paint in the main paint container fresh and untouched, you should pour out only what you need for the job into a separate paint pot and use this for painting.
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To keep your paint fresh, cover the open top of the can with a plastic wrap, place the lid on securely and store upside down. The paint will create a tight seal around the lid. Of course, your excess paint should be stored away from extreme heat or cold and out of reach of children.
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Properly sealed solvents and thinners have an almost unlimited shelf life. Solvent-based paints require special disposal practices. These products are also ignitable and present other hazards. They must never be poured down drains, waterways or on the ground.
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If you just cannot use leftover paint that is still in good condition, donate it to charity. You will save them money and make the best use out of your paint leftovers at the same time. Donate the paint in its original container with the contents clearly marked so the recipients know what they are receiving and how to handle it. It’s best to donate paint as soon as you discover you don’t need it rather than holding onto it just in case.
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Waste paint and emptied containers should be disposed of using authorised disposal routes and sites and should not be incinerated. Recycle your empty steel or plastic paint containers after removing any paint residues. Each paint container you recycle is one less that ends up in a landfill.
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To enable the re-blending or re-use of your leftover paint, avoid mixing water-based and solvent-based. After cleaning them out, you can also reuse paint cans and pails as paint pots or buckets.
