April 2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5 No matter what color you choose, you can make your painting project “green” Learn more A fresh coat of paint does wonders. With a little planning, you can beautify your surroundings the “green” way. Here are a few tips for re- ducing, reusing, and recycling paint. Measure twice, buy once Carefully measure the space to be painted and determine how many coats of paint are needed before purchasing paint. See the can label for information. Follow the general guidelines of purchas- ing one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. Ask your paint retailer for additional help. Check with your county’s solid waste management office for reuse opportuni- ties. Many have leftover paint, especially latex paint, available in their free product reuse area at household hazardous waste drop-off sites. Store paint properly to keep it in good condition You may want some leftover paint for touch ups. Here are some tips to make sure it’s usable when you need it: • Keep usable products free of con- taminants such as mold and rust. Put a sheet of plastic wrap over the can before putting on the lid to keep rust out. • Keep leftover paint, stain, or varnish in the original container with a tight lid on it. Properly storing an open can of paint will increase shelf life. • Store paint, stain, or varnish in a cool, dry area at a temperature above 40º F. Don’t keep paint in an unheated ga- rage. Don’t allow latex paint to freeze. • Store products in a well-ventilated area as vapors can accumulate in closed spaces. Proper storage will protect your health and reduce the risk of fire. • Store products away from flames, sparks, or heat sources such as a fur- nace or water heater. Reuse tips Maintain your painting supplies so they will last for many projects. Clean brushes and rollers with dish soap and water for latex paint. For oil-based paint, clean them with turpentine or oil. Planning to paint the same color again tomorrow? Instead of cleaning your brush and roller, place them in a plastic bag or plastic wrap, remove as much air as pos- sible and put in the refrigerator. They’ll be ready to use the next day. Recycling and disposal information Take liquid paint, stain, and varnish to a county household hazardous waste drop- off site. It’s okay to throw away empty paint cans- -plastic or metal. Leave the lid off to show that the can is empty and dry. Ask your recycling service provider if empty metal paint cans that held latex paint are accepted curbside for recycling. If not, dispose of empty latex paint cans (lids off) in the garbage. You can dry out small amounts of latex paint (less than one inch left in the can) in a well-ventilated area. Simply remove the lid to let the paint dry out. Stir occasion- ally to speed up the process. Place the cans (lids off) with completely dried paint in your garbage. If paint rollers and brushes cannot be reused, dry them out and place them in the garbage. Oil-based products typically require the use of thinner or other solvents for clean- ing. Solvents can be flammable and/or toxic, and should never be thrown away, poured down the drain, or dumped on the ground. For more information on proper disposal of oil-based products, varnish, thinners, or other solvents, check our paint or house- hold hazardous waste page. You can find out about paint recycling and much more at the blog section of: rethinkrecycling.com Spring Clean-up Day! Saturday, June 6 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Ramsey County Public Works Facility 1425 Kirkwold Drive (Highway 96 and Hamline Avenue) Doing some spring cleaning? Got some stuff for disposal? The annual Spring Clean-up Day for Arden Hills and Shoreview is: Please note, the date is later than the traditional May Clean-up Day of past years. Watch for details in your mail and on the home page of www.cityofardenhills.org