King County Environmental Purchasing Program

Paint, Recycled

• Introduction
• Usage History and Experience
• Bid and Contract Specifications
  • Recycled Glass-Content Paint
  • Recycled Paint
• Standards & Guidelines
  • Green Seal
  • EPA - CPG
  • LEED
• Product Experience
  • Recycled glass-content paint at the King County Enumclaw Pool
  • Recycled latex paint at the Kingdome
  • Recycled content epoxy paint at the Kingdome
• For More Information
• Vendor Information

Introduction

Paint made by reprocessing household and industrial waste paint represents a significant opportunity for the reduction of hazardous waste and hazardous waste disposal costs.

Usage History and Experience

Paint products with recycled content continue to be evaluated by County agencies as they become available, but few have been judged sufficient in quality, cost, and/or availability for County applications. In the 1990's King County Parks Division, Stadium Administration and Department of Transportation purchased paint from a local vendor for interior applications with good results. Unfortunately, this vendor went our of business. In 1996, the Parks Capital Improvement Program of the Department of Construction and Facilities Management evaluated a new coating product made with recycled glass with positive results. The agency used 250 gallons of waterproofing paint, containing 30% recycled glass, in place of the customary elastomeric exterior wall coating, to fill hairline cracks in a cement wall to prevent water seepage at an Enumclaw swimming pool project. The cost of $18 per gallon, $4500 for this project, was equivalent to the expected cost of the usual materials, there were no added costs in application, and the performance was good.

Bid and Contract Specifications

Paint products with recycled content have been purchased by County agencies through the years. In 1999, County contractors used recycled paint, as well as low VOC paint, in the new King Street Center County office building, and used recycled paint in the newly opened Vashon Transfer Station. Users choose paint to meet performance requirements, and, although the County awarded contracts in April (99) that made several varieties of recycled paint available to users, there were no purchases by June.

Recycled glass-content paint

In 1996, 250 gallons of a new paint product containing 30% recycled glass was applied to the cement exterior of the King County Enumclaw Pool building. This product is a primer/sealer for cementitious surfaces (cement block) and replaces elastomeric exterior wall coatings, such as latex paint. The need was for a product that would fill hairline cracks in cement to prevent water seepage.

Description of ECO GlassCoat Waterbased Architectural Coating for Cementitious Surfaces:

GlassCoat is a glass-filled system that is formulated to seal, condition, repair and coat concrete, concrete block, masonry and stucco surfaces. It is a single-component, waterbased system that can be rolled or spray applied for architectural coatings. It provides long-lasting color and texture and is extremely water and weather resistant. GlassCoat is an acrylic modified system that is reinforced with mica and recycled crushed glass - up to 30% of the final thickness is recycled glass. GlassCoat's elasticity allows the coating to stretch without cracking when the building moves, while providing the protection of a tough outer skin. GlassCoat's high-build qualities will bridge hairline fractures and will help fill surface irregularities, for a more uniform finish. The system is not caustic and does not contain materials considered hazardous. It is extremely user- and environmentally-friendly.

For more technical information, please see King County's experience.

State of Washington Paint Contract #15504
The State of Washington issued a contract for paint and painting supplies. Recycled paint is available from a couple of vendors on the state contract. This is the definition that they used:

Reprocessed Paint
Recycled paint is made from paint collected through public and private collection programs. Reprocessed paint is mixed with virgin materials such as resins and colorants, and then extensively tested before packaging for resale. Reprocessed paint is made with a minimum of 20% post consumer recycled material. Reprocessed latex paint shall meet or exceed standards required for virgin latex paint products.

Standards and Guidelines

Green Seal

Green Seal Standard for Paint GS-11 (1993)

New Green Seal Specification for Recycled Content Paint GS-43 (2006)

Green Seal Certified Paints list
 

Environmental Protection Agency

Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines - EPA's Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Reprocessed and Consolidated Latex Paints

US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Using recycled paint may qualify under a few categories of LEED:

EQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials, Paints

MR Credit 4.1: Recycled Content, Specify 25%

MR Credit 5.1: Local/Regional Materials, 20% Manufactured Locally

For More Information

Further information may be available through the following main menu selections:

 

Environmentally preferable paint options

King County Supply Contracts
Resources for Buyers
Sample Contract Language

Vendor Information

E-mail