Paint waste

[kafkaian]

Well I've been spraying various mdf furniture components I've made in my makeshift paint booth and get left with a load of water soluble and solvent based waste after every cleanup. At the bottom of my garden I have a sump where lots of this is dumped but am a little dissatisfied with this approach given that even after various levels of filtration, the ground is likely to get polluted. So I thought about creating an area outside my shed with a sink that empties into a large sealable but re-usable container.

I haven't checked yet, but I know my local refuse/recycling centre allows residents to pour used engine oil into vats and I've used it, but what about other chemicals? I wouldn't want to buy a new container every time.

What do other contributors do and what clean, environmentally friendly methods do you employ?

 

[George_N]

Thissite suggests using cat litter or sawdust to absorb waste water-based paint, letting it dry out and disposing of it with your household rubbish (presumably to landfill). Maybe a good use for the bags of sawdust we all seem to produce.

 

[DaveL]

Maybe a good use for the bags of sawdust we all seem to produce.

But that's the shop heating, all of my sawdust and shavings go into the wood burner.

 

[kafkaian]

Maybe a good use for the bags of sawdust we all seem to produce.

But that's the shop heating, all of my sawdust and shavings go into the wood burner.

Blimey, the Council would have a field day trying to lock me up if I did that where I live. However, the local stonemason (<ahem> what a laugh) gets away with open fires every other day that chokes the entire neighbourhood.

 

[George_N]

Blimey, the Council would have a field day trying to lock me up if I did that where I live. However, the local stonemason (<ahem> what a laugh) gets away with open fires every other day that chokes the entire neighbourhood.

I don't see a problem with disposing of relatively low toxicity water-based paints absorbed in sawdust, though if you are producing large volumes of it the council might object.

 

[Shrubby]

I wouldn't pour spirits into a soakaway. spirit waste can be 'settled' in a big jar or drum and reused for cleaning guns and brushes. more volatile cellulose etc could be sealed in your empty paint containers and taken to the tip.
Matt

 

[BradNaylor]

more volatile cellulose etc could be sealed in your empty paint containers and taken to the tip.
Matt

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Solvent waste must always be disposed of through a specialist waste disposal company who have the correct accreditation, will fill in all the relevant paperwork, and will charge you several hundred pounds for the privilege.

Perish the thought that anyone would dream of simply pouring it into old cans and taking it down the tip!

Dan