Regina paint recycling program

On April 20, 2002, the City of Regina in partnership with SaskTel launched its annual "Paint It Recycled" residential paint-waste diversion program. With the support of volunteers and corporate sponsors, the program was initiated in 1993. In 2001, Regina handled about 8,000 gallons of residential paint waste or about 68 per cent of Saskatchewan’s total. Last year, the program cost approximately $65,000 or $8 per gallon.

In an effort to reduce costs, the labour intensive volunteer program is asking residents to bulk-up oil-base paint into full cans so that cans can be processed faster. To further reduce costs and to reduce the amount of non-paint hazardous materials contaminating the program, residents are now asked to stay in the car while volunteers go to their trunk and pick up only paint waste.

The oil-based paint is processed into low grade heating fuel by NewAlta(Sask) and the empty paint cans are recycled into steel at the IPSCO plant in Regina. The program currently handles more oil-based than latex paint but more residents now buy latex paint, which is less expensive to handle.

For more information, contact Dwight Mercer at 306-777-7286 or dmercer@cityregina.com