Environmental Awareness

The Right Way to Store and Dispose Paint

Storage of paint

  1. Store paint in a secure location.
  2. Store in cool, dry and well-ventilated place at temperature between 20˚C to 40˚C away from heat and sources of ignition.
  3. Seal the paint can properly before you put it away to keep the paint from drying up.
  4. Store in original container protected from direct sunlight and away from incompatible materials, food and drink.
  5. Label storage containers according to the contents.
  6. Separate paint into water-based or solvent-based during storage.

Disposal of waste paint

  1.  The product should not be allowed to enter drains and watercourses.
  2. Wastes and empty containers should be treated and disposed of in accordance with national and local regulations.
  3. Dispose the water-based and solvent-based paint in two different ways :
Water-Based Paint

These are how to dispose of latex paint without taking it to a recycling center

  1. Add equal parts cat litter to latex paint in the can. If you have more than a half a can, you can also pour the paint into an adequate container size before pouring in cat litter.
  2. Stir the cat litter into the paint until it thickens and will not spill. Allow the mixture to sit for one hour. Wait until it hardens before disposal.
  3. Throw the dried paint in the can in the garbage. Make sure to remove the lid to allow the collector to see the content.
  4. If you don’t have much paint left in the can, you can just remove the lid and let the paint dry out on its own.
Solvent-Based Paint
  1. Use it all up : Apply a second coat or touch up, as needed.
  2. Store it so it lasts for years : Tightly seal the used paint can and store it upside-down in a cool, dry storage area.
  3. Oil-based paints are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed in accordance with the appropriate Environmental Quality Regulations.
  4. Refer to Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for more information regarding paint disposal.