It is a rare household or maintenance shop that does not have partial cans of paint stored for some undetermined future use.
Studies indicate that the average household stockpiles one to three gallons of waste paint per year.
After months, and often years, the paint remains unused until one day someone decides to clean the storeroom and must decide what to do with the partial can of old paint. Now a variety of paint recycling services are operating that will turn waste paint into a productive use. Any hazardous materials or contaminants discovered are put aside for disposal. All paints of similar type and color are mixed in a large mixing tank and blended by a powerful high-speed mixer. The paint is filtered to remove any remaining particles that would roughen the finish and it is canned and labeled for sale and for use.