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Green Painter's Guide

  • If you can’t use Super-Compliant paint, avoid painting during peak smog season: July, August, and September.
  • If you can’t find Super-Compliant paint, use any of the readily available Low-VOC paints designed to do the job.
  • Buy only the paint you need.  Try this Paint Calculator Link to external website. from PaintCare, Inc. Link to external website.  PaintCare is  a non-profit organization established by the American Coatings Association to implement California’s Paint Stewardship Law.  PaintCare has established hundreds of drop-off sites for leftover paint at retailers and other sites throughout California.  For further information, you can email CalRecycle.
  • Recycle leftover paint. Take any left over paint to one of the many drop-off sites Link to external website. run by PaintCare, Inc. 
  • Keep lids closed on all paint containers when not in use to prevent VOC emissions and excessive odors.
  • For water-based paints, clean up with water only, but whenever possible, do not rinse the clean-up water down the drain or pour it directly into the ground or the storm drain. 
  • Recycle the empty paint can.
  • Look for non-solvent containing stripping products.
  • Use compliant low-VOC cleaning solvents to clean paint application equipment. Click on the following hyperlink for a list of: Clean Air Solvents.
  • Keep all paint and solvent laden rags in sealed containers to prevent VOC emissions.
  • Use according to manufacturer's directions
  • Make sure you provide plenty of ventilation when using paint or solvent products.
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