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September 14th, 2012

How to properly dispose of latex paint in Skagit County

SKAGIT COUNTY - Starting October 1, 2012, Skagit County's Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Facility in Mount Vernon will no longer accept latex paint. Recent research shows that latex paint can safely be put in the garbage if it is dry or solidified first.

Beginning in October, residents will be asked to offer useable quantities to one of several thrift stores that accept latex. Smaller quantities or otherwise unusable latex will have to be thickened to a non-pourable consistency before disposing at one of three Skagit County transfer stations, at regular trash pricing. Dumped illegally, liquid latex paint can be a hazard by plugging or damaging septic fields, overloading sewage treatment plants and creating environmental hazards on the ground.
About half of Washington State counties do not handle latex in their hazardous waste programs. The local decision results from a continued decrease in revenue that corresponds with decreasing trash tonnage.
Latex house and wall paints, along with other water-based stains and sealers, collectively referred to as "latex," are designated as a hazardous waste when still in liquid form, and account for more than 25 to 30 percent of the wastes received in the county's Moderate Risk Waste Program. Upwards of 10 hours per week is spent thickening latex to enable legal disposal with other household trash. Staff time, absorbent, and disposal cost the county almost $20,000 in 2011. Last year, approximately 130,000 pounds of waste latex were processed for disposal.

The County's Moderate Risk Waste program for households and small businesses continues to accept oil-based paints, automotive fluids, rechargeable and lithium batteries, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps, pesticides, pool and spa chemicals, and other hazardous materials with the help of a Washington State Department of Ecology Grant.

Information on how to solidify latex paint can be obtained online at www.skagitcounty.net/recycle or by picking up an informational flyer at the Skagit County Transfer and Recycling Station. For questions about drying or thickening latex paint or about having large quantities of latex paint to dry out, call the Recycling Hotline at 360-419-7683 or 360-424-7817.