We’ve talked for years about the importance of paint reuse and recycling. Paint manufacturing is a resource intensive process – 13 gallons of water are required to make one gallon of paint – and reusing and recycling paint ensures the materials used in manufacturing don’t go to waste. For the past 25 years we’ve accepted paint, making it available for reuse. We’re thrilled to announce that there’s a new nationwide organization joining us in our paint reuse and recycling efforts.
In the Spring of 2021, The RE Store joined the PaintCare paint reuse and recycling program in Washington State and became their newest paint drop off center. PaintCare is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization started by the American Coatings Association to encourage the reuse and recycling of household paint products. This program accepts unwanted paint at drop off centers (like us!) around the country and makes the paint available for reuse and remanufacturing by organizations like MetroPaint. A small amount of paint is also used in cement and asphalt blends, as landscaping material and as fuel for cement kilns and hazardous waste incinerators.
Now that we’re part of PaintCare what’s going to change? We now accept a wider range of paint products! We’re still mixing up water based paints and have gallons, 5-gallon buckets, quarts and testers available for sale. But now as a member of the PaintCare program we’re also accepting paints we previously turned away. In order to be accepted, all paint products must be sealed in a rust free and un-dented can or jug with the original label still intact and legible.
What we accept:
- Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings)
- Deck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric)
- Primers, sealers, undercoaters
- Stains
- Shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)
- Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellents (not tar or bitumen-based coatings)
- Metal coatings, rust preventatives
- Field and lawn paints
What we don’t accept:
The following items are considered hazardous waste and will not be accepted.
- Paint thinners, mineral spirits, solvents
- Aerosol paints (spray cans)
- Auto and marine paints
- Art and craft paints
- Caulking compounds, epoxies, glues and adhesives
- Paint additives, colorants, tints and resins
- Wood preservatives (containing pesticides)
- Roof patch and repair
- Asphalt, tar and bitumen-based products
- 2-component coatings
- Deck cleaners
- Traffic and road marking paints
- Industrial Maintenance (IM) coatings
- Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) (shop application) paints and finishes.
We don’t accept items that are considered hazardous waste. These products must be disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. The closest facility to The RE Store is the Whatcom County Disposal of Toxics Facility located at 3505 Airport Drive. For more information, visit their website or call 360-380-4640.