The DuPage County Latex Paint Program has reopened for the season.
The free program runs out of the Woodridge Greene Valley Wastewater Treatment Facility, where residents can recycle their unwanted, water-based paint.
“Well first of all this paint should not just be dumped in a landfill. So we partnered up with the Illinois EPA in 2001 and we came up with this program where we’re going to recycle this paint,” said Amy Grant, a DuPage County board member and environmental committee member.
Paint is sorted by finish to then be filtered, remixed and then offered to nonprofits, schools, and residents, free of cost in five-gallon containers. But there are a couple restrictions to keep in mind if you’re planning to drop off.
“Oil based paints, thinners, stains, and varnishes cannot be brought here. Those have to go to facilities like the Naperville facility on the west side of the city to be disposed of there. Also you cannot bring paint that is over ten years old, or that has been frozen. So if you’ve had it in your garage for five or six years, assume that it has been frozen and unfrozen several times. And then the best thing to do is open the can of paint, some people will throw cat litter in, but usually people just leave it open for a long period of time. It eventually dries out completely and then you can dispose of it,” explained James Healy, a DuPage County board member and environmental committee member.
You can drop off your unwanted paint from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. now through August 4.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
