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. |