A Guide to Household Hazardous Products, Safe Disposal and Less Toxic Alternatives -Paint Products

Product Hazardous Property Safe and Proper Disposal Less Toxic Alternative
Adhesives Irritant 
Toxic
Contact your municipality about HHW Days. Use all product or give away. Open container and allow residue to harden in a safe, well-ventilated area, then put in garbage. White or yellow glues.
Enamel or Oil-based Paints Flammable
Irritant
Toxic
Use all product or give it away. Take it to any SARCAN depot for recycling. Latex or water-based paints (still can be toxic, though, see below) or natural earth-pigment finishes.
Latex or Water-Based Paints Toxic Use all product or give it away. Take it to any SARCAN depot for recycling. Limestone-based whitewash or cassein-based paint.
Fiberglass and Epoxy Resin Irritant Contact your municipality about HHW Days. Mix resins and hardener, allow to react and solidify, then put in garbage. Unknown.
Furniture and Paint Stripper Flammable
Toxic
Contact your municipality about HHW Days. For water-based stripper, flush small amounts down drain with lots of water. Do not put petroleum or solvent-based stripper down drain. Open container and allow residue to harden in a safe, well-ventilated area, then put in garbage.  Sandpaper, power sander, steel wool, scraper or heat gun depending on surface to be stripped.
Stains, Varnishes and Lacquer Flammable
Toxic
Use all product or give it away. Take it to any SARCAN depot for recycling. Latex paints or natural earth-pigment finishes.
Thinners, Solvents and Turpentine Flammable
Toxic
Contact your municipality about HHW Days. Store in a closed container until particles settle, then filter and store in a separate container for reuse. Water-based paints so that thinner is not necessary.
Wood Preservative Flammable
Irritant 
Toxic
Contact your municipality about HHW Days. Use all product. Give to wood-treating companies, fence and sign post installers, local parks departments or campgrounds. Naturally resistant wood or water-based wood preservatives. Seal treated wood with urethane, varnish, shellac or water-based products. Consider wood alternatives, such as plastic wood.