Paint

The first step in choosing the right paint is making sure it is healthy for the occupants. Synthetic paints often contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many of these materials are toxic and sometimes found to cause cancer. Finding a paint with low or zero VOCs increases air quality and leads to a healthier life. Look on the side of the can for information about the VOC content of your paint.

The next step is to reduce waste and extend the life cycle of your paint. Make sure that you only buy enough paint for the job, to avoid unnecessary leftovers. If you do have leftover paint, store it properly for reuse. Paint should be stored in the can, upside down, to create an airtight seal around the lid. When buying paint, look for either reprocessed or re-blended paint. Reprocessed is only partially recycled, but comes in a variety of colors and is of equal quality to new paints. Re-blended paints are limited in colors, but generally contain a higher percentage of post-consumer content. In either case, try to aim for a minimum of 50% post-consumer content.

Also, try to look for paint that contains the least hazardous materials. Paints with heavy metals or oil-based paints pose health risks or generate pollution during disposal. Latex based paints are easier to manage, though they are still petroleum based. Another option is to buy a solvent-free natural paint made from biodegradable materials such as plant oils or clay.

Finally, it is important to consider what to do should you have leftover paint that you are not able to reuse. If you have extra oil based paint you must take it to a hazardous waste collection cite. The City of Seattle offers a hazardous waste reuse program if you have a large enough quantity of leftover material. If you don’t have a large amount, try to find one that will recycle the paint or sell it for reuse.