Paint

Disposal

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), every year American homeowners throw out 64 million gallons or 242 million liters of unused paint, which is enough to paint 16 solid highway stripes from the Earth to the moon. Indeed, more paint is wasted in do-it-yourself (DIY) works than in professional ones, since painters and decorators know better than the general public about how much material is needed. Additionally, professionals change their mind less often and tend to stick to the color originally chosen. Retailers of paint also account for some of the waste, because minor faults such as a dent in a can can make the material unsellable. Additionally, when the choice of customized colors is available, rejected results are also disposed of.

Uses and Types

Most of the paint sold is decorative. A much smaller volume is used for other applications, such as the painting of cars, yachts, and boats, and for hobbies and games. It is important to understand the components of paint when addressing the health, safety, and environmental impacts of the product and its waste. Paint, generally, contains pigments, extenders, binders, thinners, solvents, and additives. A significant proportion of high-performance coatings can be used in maintenance work on public buildings, such as hospitals, schools, and road bridges. Industry and commerce deal with many different types of paints and coatings, some of which include gloss, enamel, spray paint, and emulsion; the use and disposal of all these latter substances can have a significant impact upon the environment.

Lead

Lead is a material of particular interest within the components of paint. It is used as a pigment, particularly in “chrome yellow” and “white lead.” It is also added to paint to speed drying, increase durability, and resist moisture, which can damage the underlying metal or wood. This is important because lead is generally considered a dangerous substance, particularly for children younger than 6 years old; for this reason, people are particularly wary about disposing of lead paint and have heard alarming media stories about it. Certain countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia have totally banned lead-containing paint and also toys and furniture coated with such paint because of the risk of the poisoning in children who may ingest chips or peelings. Because of this potential hazard, in 2007, millions of toys made in China were recalled by different countries. However, in other countries, lead continues to be added to paint intended for domestic use, and it is also generally used in certain industries, by the military, and for street and pavement marks. The walls of older buildings, even in places that have banned lead paint, can also contain lead if they were painted before the 1970s regulations. Effective April 2010, U.S. law also requires that all renovators who work in homes built pre-1978 and disturb more than six square-feet of lead paint must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Lead has low reactivity and solubility; as such, lead poisoning usually only occurs when the paint is dispersed (as when sanding or torching paint).

...