Macon County to Host Paint Collections

Macon County Environmental Management Department is sponsoring drop-off collections of household paint from Macon County residents. Residents may schedule an appointment for an exclusive drop-off time during late afternoon hours on Fridays or participate in mass collection events to be held on Saturday, May 7 and Saturday, June 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. Reservations for the staffed collections on Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. may be made by contacting the Macon County Environmental Management Department at 425-4505.

The collections of paints, stains and varnishes, by appointment and during the mass collection events, will be at the Decatur Business Center, 2121 Imboden Court off of the west side of South Rt. 51, south of the South Shores shopping center. For safety and convenience, staff and volunteers will unload accepted items from vehicles. The dropping off of items at times other than the scheduled collections is prohibited.

Household items accepted during the drop-off collections include paints, such as latex, alkyd, enamel and oil based paints, porch, floor and deck paints as well as primers, stains and varnishes. Paint from businesses as well as substances other than paints, stains and varnishes will not be collected, including adhesives, automotive paint, industrial or two-part paint, jointing compounds, roofing tar, solvents, window glazing compound, pesticides, household cleaners, and motor oil.

Prior to the drop-off collections, residents are encouraged to manage empty paint cans and dried paint by placing these items in their residential garbage containers. Lids should be removed from disposed paint cans so garbage haulers may verify that no liquid remains in the cans. Garbage haulers are not to accept paint in its liquid state as it is considered a contaminant and cannot be received at the local landfill.

Residents who are not able to participate in the collections may dispose of paint in their household waste container, provided it is solidified prior to disposal. Small quantities of paint may be solidified by removing the paint can lid and allowing the paint to completely dry, ensuring that open cans of paint are kept away from children, animals and flames. Larger quantities of paint may be mixed with kitty litter to accelerate the solidification process.

The paint collection/recycling program is funded by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Partners for Paint Program and Macon County Environmental Management Department. For further information, please telephone the Macon County Environmental Management Department at 425-4505.