Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station [Solid Waste Resource Renewal Group]

Recycled Latex Paint

Recycled latex paint is becoming increasingly familiar to both public and private entities statewide. With its price and quality, recycled latex paint has been specified and applied successfully in both local and state government projects.

Recycled latex paint is made primarily with leftover but unused latex paint that has been brought to local household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities by residents, painting contractors and other paint users. The collected paint is visually checked for quality and then sent to paint manufacturers for recycling.

  • Price. Recycled paint's lower prices — savings of up to 50% compared to non-recycled paints on the state contract — can translate to big cost reductions for your paint jobs.

  • Recycled content. Recycled latex paint is made from unused latex paint collected from households, government, businesses and painting contractors. New materials are added to improve the paint's consistency and make standard colors. Recycled latex paints on the Minnesota state contract are made with 20–80% recycled content.

  • Manufacture. Recycled latex paint is made using standard paint processing equipment. Testing ensures performance: Recycled paint runs through the same quality tests that are used in the manufacture of new, non-recycled paint.

  • Application. No special equipment is needed. Recycled latex paint is applied using all conventional painting methods — spray, brush or roller. Use it anywhere you might use non-recycled. Recycled performs on a wide range of surfaces — gypsum wallboard, wood, stucco and concrete.

  • Proven performance. Several successful demonstration projects around Minnesota have showcased recycled paint, proving that it is a recycled product that performs. Recycled paint is gaining acceptance among painters, contractors, architects, designers and building owners in both private and government sectors.

Recycling latex paint

Recycling used paint reduces government costs.

  • Leftover latex paint is a disposal problem for local governments in Minnesota. It is one of the largest-volume items collected by city and county household hazardous waste (HHW) programs.

  • Leftover paint is typically still a usable product. Recycling this paint locally is cheaper than shipping it off for disposal as a hazardous waste.

  • In manufacturing, using post-consumer paint reduces the energy consumption and pollution of paint production. It also assures that a usable product is diverted from the waste stream.
By purchasing recycled paint, buyers and contractors are doing their part to help reduce government costs. Recycled latex paint is up to 50% cheaper than non-recycled paint. Plus, by supporting local recyclers and paint manufacturers, you ensure that this market will be available as a low-cost disposal option.

 

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