Results of NH Pilot Project: Exporting Post Consumer Paint For Recycling September 15, 2005

Project Management /
The State of New Hampshire HHW Grant Program Coordinator provided technical assistance to the Pemi-Baker Solid Waste District (PBSWD) who was managing the project, by conducting workshops, developing guidance documents and offering advice on various issues.
Objectives / The objective of the pilot was to determine the economic and administrative feasibility of collecting post consumer paint and exporting it to Canada for recycling. The costs and collection efficiency are compared to the previous method of collecting it at one-day HHW events.
Project Summary / Post consumer paint was collected at select locations in the PBSWD over the 2004 summer months. The paint was be packaged and exported to Laurentide Paint Company in Quebec for recycling. The Paint Recycling Company, a subsidiary of Laurentide, was the hauler for the post-consumer paint.
Results / The project was completed in the spring, summer and fall of 2004. Total paint collected was 19,236 pounds (26 waste packs) with 16,753 pounds recycled (2094 gallons). Total cost was $7,712.25 (included transportation costs). The cost of sending this amount for disposal or incineration would be almost double.
Resources / The PBSWD the North East Resource Recycling Association (NRRA), and the State of New Hampshire HHW Grant Program shared the cost of the project. Trained staff was provided by the PBSWD utilizing current resources such as collection locations and storage areas. The PBSWD purchased the necessary equipment needed, such as containers for shipping, and spill equipment.
Performance Measures / The project was determined to be a success because of the cost savings per gallon to send the paint for recycling vs. the cost per gallon to send if for incineration. There was an approximate cost saving of 50 percent per gallon for managing the leftover paint. The paint was sent for recycling, making the project a success, since it was not sent for disposal or incineration.
Correlation to the Dialogue / This project relates to the work of the paint dialogue in that it correlated with the key issue of Transportation Costs. No workgroup was involved. The project was be monitored by PSI.
Notes / The project also answered questions about collecting, storing and transporting post consumer leftover paint for recycling (product) vs. waste paint for disposal (hazardous waste). It resulted in New Hampshire DES drafting a paint collection protocol for NH municipalities to reference.
Lessons Learned /
  • The percent of non-acceptable materials was too high. Careful monitoring of the items placed in shipment packages would be needed.
  • The cost of recycling latex paint has to be weighed against the cost of drying it and sending it for landfill.
  • Pricing per pound, instead of per volume, would result in more cost savings since most of the volume shipped was air space.
  • The recycling of post consumer paint in New Hampshire is difficult due to the lack of paint recycling facilities/ markets in the area, resulting in the need to transport to other states or countries. This involves the need to comply with other states and countries rules and regulations to meet the desired goal, making the process cumbersome.
  • The project will not be expanded to other municipalities due to the limited resources of the Paint Recycling Company. A permanent recycling facility or infrastructure in the area will allow for these types of programs to occur.

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