Building Exterior Maintenance Information

Use water-based paints instead of oil-based paints whenever possible.
When spray painting, use smaller paint containers to minimize waste. Low volume, high pressure sprayers control over-spray, reducing paint waste.
Mix paint indoors before starting work to minimize the opportunity for spills to enter storm drains.
Use impermeable ground cloths while painting. Place paint cans in larger pans to contain drips and spills.
Immediately clean up any spills that occur. Capture spills before they enter storm drains and clean them up using absorbents or other dry methods.
It is illegal to pour paint, solvent, clean-up water or any other wastes down a storm drain or onto the ground. Recycle solvents and use excess paints elsewhere on-site or donate them to a local school or community group.
Completely empty paint cans and let them air dry before disposing of them.
If you're using water-based paint, clean brushes and equipment in a sink connected to the sanitary sewer. If you're using oil-based paint, contain waste paint and solvents for reuse, recycling or disposal as hazardous waste. Never pour paint down a drain.
Use water-based thinners instead of petroleum-based thinners, if possible. Filter and reuse paint thinners until they're no longer effective, and recycle them through a commercial recycling service.