Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department’s 22nd Annual Recycled Latex Paint Giveaway is on Saturday, May 7, 2016, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Alachua County Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Located at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station (5125 N.E. 63rd Avenue, Gainesville, 2 miles north of 39th Avenue, off Waldo Road), the Hazardous Waste Collection Center offers free recycled paint to all Alachua County residents on a first come, first serve basis (with a 10-gallon limit per household).  Paint will be available in five-gallon pails in the following colors: off white, beige, gray, terra cotta, green, and blue.

Recycled latex paint is distributed as part of the Hazardous Waste Collection Center’s Reuse/Recycle Program. Paint is collected from residents throughout the year, and shipped to Scott Paint in Sarasota, where the latex paint is sorted by color, blended and then pigments are added to create five-gallon buckets of recycled paint.

Using this recycling method, approximately 3,600 gallons of 75% post-consumer recycled latex paint is available to community organizations and residents with special needs free of charge. During the past 12 months, some non-profits benefitting from this Reuse-Recycle Program include Sisters Helping Sisters In Need, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, S.A.F.E. ID4Families, United Way of North Central Florida, and Keep Alachua County Beautiful.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the citizens of Alachua County to beautify their property while recycling a product that still has value,” said Alachua County Hazardous Waste Coordinator Kurt Seaburg. “The program continues to be very successful and benefits the community in many ways.”

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 more information, visit the Hazardous Waste Collection Center’s website or call 352-334-0440.