Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department is holding the 18th Annual Recycled Latex Paint Giveaway on Saturday, May 5, 2012, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station (5125 NE 63rd Avenue, 2 miles north of 39th Avenue, off Waldo Road).

The recycled paint will be 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.

The event will distribute 3,600 gallons of recycled latex paint to community organizations, civic groups and people with special needs, free of charge. The paint can be used for homes and businesses that cannot afford the cost of new paint. It is suitable for either interior or exterior usage. The latex paint is collected throughout the year by the Hazardous Waste Program and shipped to a paint manufacturer where it is blended and repackaged into a 75% post consumer paint.

“A total of  over 62,000 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 agencies beautify their property while recycling a product that still has value. The program has been highly successful and quite popular with County residents."

For any resident that is not able to attend the event, non-recycled 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 up some of 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 about the Recycled Latex Paint Giveaway, contact the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 352-334-0440 or visiting their website.