Board Meeting discussion: SSRC Latex Paint Recycling Grant

Katharine Brown, The Paint Exchange 781-545-1272, and grant manager Stefan Malner, MassDEP, discussed the Latex Paint Recycling grant project at last week’s Board meeting.

SSRC was awarded a $13,700 grant by MassDEP to set up and promote a paint collection/ recycling/ sale-donation system with The Paint Exchange (TPE). 

SSRC residents bring a lot of latex paint to HHW days.  Executive Director reluctantly sends people home with it with disposal instructions.  Last year she told them to bring the good latex paint to TPE.  Considerable disposal volume, costly to towns/residents.

TPE Principals Katharine and Tania Keeble have done decorative painting for several years; leftover paint quantities were vast.  2 years ago TPE began mixing leftover paint 20 gallons at a time, repackaging as reColor in various quantities and selling and donating on a small scale at its location in Scituate. They are trying to scale up and make their paint recycling business sustainable. 

For the grant, the ex. Dir. proposed to collect good quality leftover latex interior paint in conjunction with our 2011 SSRC HHW collections, and at 1-2x at each of the permanent paint collection locations (Cohasset, Duxbury, Norwell).  People who bring paint will receive discount coupons for reColor paint purchases.  Paint is sold at just over half the price of retail at TPE.  TPE is working on selling it at other outlets.

TPE needs to sell paint at same rate as it comes in to keep it flowing; encourage use in municipal projects.  Donation of paint is possible.

Managers expressed a need for exterior paint. TPE storage permit from DEP prohibits exterior.  Mr. Malner said they could probably get permission, DEP wants to be flexible to encourage this endeavor.

TPE is open to accept and sell paint W-F 9:30-3, or by appt. Charge $1/gallon for paint that is brought in to help defray costs.

Concerns were expressed by some of the managers about holding up the lines at HHW days, the illegal dumping of rejected paint, and confusion, since we’ve been telling residents for years not to bring latex paint to HHW day.  It was noted that many people still bring it, it is rejected and people are given disposal instructions. 

It was decided to schedule and advertise latex paint collections separately from HHW collections, but in the vicinity of them so people who do bring it to HHW collection can be given the option of going to the other location. 

TPE only has permit (and space) for storing up to 200 gallons, needs additional storage space.

Survey of littering/illegal dumping fines

Abington is implementing a 3 barrel limit next month for curbside trash.  In reconsidering its $1000 littering/illegal dumping fine,  the Board of Health requested information on other towns’ fines.  Hanover $200; Kingston $25; Duxbury $50 (not enforced).  If you know what fine your town levies for littering / illegal dumping, please contact Claire

Scituate is back in the SSRC

Sustainable Scituate, Ms. Black, Mr. Herrmann, and Mr. Brown helped persuade Scituate’s new Town Administrator of SSRC’s value, after a great deal of scrutiny.  With that, the SSRC’s 6^th spring HHW collection is confirmed in Scituate for June 18, and we are back to fourteen member towns.  The Board enthusiastically welcomed back Kevin Cafferty at last week’s meeting.

SSRC Small Scale Targeted grant-

The SSRC was awarded $2000 by MassDEP for outreach materials.  In the Exec. Director’s hastily filled out request, she proposed buying a professional exhibit board, printing MassRecycle’s Paper bill inserts (see article below), and recycling stickers.  If anyone would like other outreach materials, please contact Claire by Feb. 4.

Gas Prices projected to increase this spring

This is worthy of note if you are bidding any contracts that involved hauling-watch out for fuel surcharge clauses!