Household Hazardous Waste
Household Products - Paint

Uses:

Paint is used on the interior and exteriors of our houses. It is used to change the color and to protect the surface from sun and water damage. Paint is a mixture of resins, solvents, additives, and pigments. There are two types of paint depending on the base liquid. These are oil (oil/alkyd-based) or latex (water based).

Oil paints are more hazardous than latex paints due to their petroleum base and require a solvent-like turpentine to clean up. Latex paint is easier to work with, to clean up (soap and water), and it is not as harmful to human health and the environment if handled properly. Oil and latex paints are now made for both interior and exterior uses.

Hazards:

Older paints may contain harmful heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. Lead was used as a drying agent and pigment in oil based paints as well as some latex paints. In 1978, the US Product Safety Commission reduced the maximum lead content in paint to only trace amounts (not harmful). Older homes from 1940-1960 may contain paint that has large amounts of lead in it. Mercury was added to paints (interior and exterior, latex and oil) as a fungicide to prevent the buildup of mold and mildew on painted surfaces. Mercury use in paints is now prohibited but many paints are still around that may contain mercury.

Oil paints give off large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs contribute to air pollution, and can cause liver and kidney damage after long-term exposure. Oil paint is flammable, making storage and handling difficult. Some of the resins and additives in latex paint can cause irritation to the eyes and lungs if the paint is applied in a closed room.

Many of the resins, pigments, and additives are also toxic to aquatic animals when the paint ends up in the water supply. Following proper storage and disposal guidelines provided on the paint can label can minimize these hazards.

Disposal: