The Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s new Paint Recycling Program offers an economical and environment- friendly solution to the community by diverting unwanted, leftover paint from landfills and toxins from the community’s water supply.
So how does the Paint Recycling program work? Donations of latex paint cans will be accepted if they are no older than 5 years; have never been frozen; are at least half-full and not dried up. Once the donated paint is inspected, it’s then separated by interior/exterior and similar colors.
The categorized paint gets filtered into special barrels with industrial mixers and repackaged in Habitat paint cans, each marked with a color sample and unique name. The ReStore sells the recycled and professionally remixed latex paint gallons for just $12 each, which is one-third or easily one-quarter of the price of latex paint in other retail stores.
Mon Valley Habitat’s Executive Director, Shawnda Cook, said they got the idea from Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha & Putnam. She emphasized, “The program will offer local residents and businesses a resource to responsibly recycle leftover or new latex paint along with raising revenue to assist with constructing Habitat homes!” Cook went on to say, “Because of the potential impact, our number one goal for the Paint Recycling Program is to increase awareness so we can continue to help make a difference in our local communities.”
The ReStore will be hosting its first Recycled Paint Drive on Saturday, February 1st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1825 Earl L. Core Road in Morgantown. There is a color-naming contest going on now until February 15th. Pay $1 and enter your own unique paint color with a description. The winning ticket that gets pulled will get a $20 ReStore gift card.