Exterior and Interior Painting With Recycled Paint

Sometimes when we’re quoting interior or exterior painting services for a commercial or residential customer, we are asked what we think about recycled paints, and what are the benefits of using them? 

Without hesitation or thinking too much, the first and most compelling answer we have for them is the benefits for the environment.  Imagine how many houses, offices, industrial and commercial business are painted every year and all the leftover paint cans that are sitting in basements, garages, or storage areas and how many were collected by the towns and cities for later disposal, to dumped in landfills, or even to be incinerated.

According to Paintcare’s website in 2018, since the program started in 2009, more than 27 million gallons of paint have been collected for recycling.  Paintcare is a non-profit organization that represents the paint producers and was initiated by the American Coating Association. 

Recycled Paint Pros & Cons

Pros  
1.  Follow all the guideline for environmentally safe (low VOHC) paint  
2. There are exterior and interior painting finishes 
3. It has been recycled and cleaned and it’s like new 
4.  It can be found in the largest online retailer in the world  
5.  It’s easy to use

Cons  
1.  Depending on the manufacturer, there may a limited number of colors   
2.  Not carried by many local stores  
3.  You may notice or find a slight variance in the color if trying to touch up a wall previously painted with recycled paint because it was from a different batch.  
4.  Sometimes the prices are not as competitive as the largest manufacturers such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, or PPG

Where Can You Find It?

In Massachusetts, the leader in recycled paint is a Recolor Paints, LLC company located in Hanover.  Their website has all the local distributors and you can find them by zip code.  

The recolor products can also be found at Amazon.com   

Donating Paint For Recycling

After you have finished your commercial or residential painting project, if you have left-over water-based paint (latex) that isn’t more 10 years old and has not been frozen, please consider donating it to be recycled.  Contact the store from where you’re buying your recycled paint.  
In some states, like Rhode Island there is a fee for a recycled collection, up to $2 for a five-gallon paint can. Consult your local city or town to paint drop-off locations. 

Save Money With Recycled Paint

If you’re planning to use recycled paint on your next residential or commercial painting project, please consider the following:
1. Have your painting contractor estimate how many gallons you need because the color comes ready from the manufacturer.
2. There is a possibility of small variance in tone (lighter or darker). Try buying it all from the same store as they are more likely to have paint produced from the same batches.
3. If you’re going to paint more than one room the same color, buy-in five-gallon tubs to help reduce the chance of color variance.
4. Have your contractor prime the walls with the same color of recycled paint.  You’ll save some money.