Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department’s 20th Annual Recycled Latex Paint Giveaway is on Saturday, May 3, 2014, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center, which is located at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station (5125 NE 63rd Avenue, Gainesville, 2 miles north of 39th Avenue, off Waldo Road). 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.

3,600 gallons of 75% post-consumer recycled latex paint is available to community organizations, civic groups and people with special needs, free of charge. It is recommended that the paint be used for homes and businesses that cannot afford the cost of new paint.

 “A total of over 70,000 gallons of recycled paint has been provided to Alachua County residents since the inception of the program in 1994.” said Hazardous Waste Coordinator, Kurt Seaburg. “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.”

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 and is suitable for either interior or exterior usage.

Residents unable to attend the event can pick up non-recycled free paint of varying quality and quantity at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center’s Recycle/Reuse Area. Residents can pick up 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 information about the Hazardous Waste Collection Center, visit their website.

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