How can free hazardous waste be frugal? And why would anyone even want any? Read on to find out how you can profit from hazardous waste. No, this isn’t a joke.
You may or may not know that many counties and towns have programs and collection sites for hazardous household materials. Some areas allow you to drop off your hazardous household materials once or twice a year. Other collection sites are always open. These are materials that need to be disposed of by their owners, but the items are not appropriate to be thrown into a landfill. These materials include things such as latex paint, primer paint, oil based paint, interior paint and exterior paint, and wood stain. Many times, the paint that is collected at the hazardous waste collection site is brand new. Many people overbuy paint, store if for a little while and then clean out their basements and garages.
(Another tip: most paint stores and home improvement stores will take back extra paint, as long as it is a recent purchase. They resell it back to the public at a discounted price.)
You can take advantage of all of this paint that everyone else is dropping off and get it for free. Many of the collection sites will allow you to take away as much as you can use, as long as you sign an agreement saying that you will use the materials appropriately. Check your local township, borough, or region to see if this is an option in your area. Even picking up just a few buckets of primer paint can save you some bucks. You can also mix paints to get the colors you want, provided that it is all the same kind of paint. it might be worth a quick look to see what is available.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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