Media Release

April 24, 2009

11:15 a.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department is holding the 15th Annual Recycled Latex Paint Giveaway on Saturday, May 2, 2009. It will run from 8 a.m. until all paint is given (no later than noon) at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center, located at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park, 5125 NE 63rd Avenue, Gainesville (2 miles north of 39th Avenue, off Waldo Road).

The event will distribute 3,600 gallons of 75% post consumer recycled latex paint to community organizations, civic groups and people with special needs, free of charge. The paint is used for homes and businesses that cannot afford the cost of new paint. The recycled paint is given away on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available in 5 gallon pails with six colors to choose from: off white, beige, gray, terra cotta, green and blue. There is a 10 gallon limit per resident.

"A total of  over 46,000 gallons of recycled paint has been provided to Alachua County residents since the inception of the program in 1994" said Kurt Seaburg, Hazardous Waste Coordinator for the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. "The program began as a means of assisting homeowners and businesses beautify their property while recycling a product that still has value" stated Seaburg. The cost to recycle the paint is only slightly more than the cost to dispose of the unwanted paint by a solidification process.

For any resident that is not able to attend the event, free paint of varying quality and quantity, which is dropped off by residents who no longer need it, is available at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center's Recycle/Reuse Area. Residents can pick this paint and other household products during normal business hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon.

For more information, please call the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 352-334-0440.

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