A first-time homeowner's attempt to dispose of leftover paint could carry thousands of dollars in fines from the city if officials find out. The homeowner, filled with guilt, asked Reddit for advice.
Here's what to know
In the Reddit post on r/homeowners, the original poster described pouring an estimated 4 to 8 ounces of leftover paint from a paint cup into a storm drain after painting their walls.
A later search for paint-can recycling instructions revealed to the homeowner that pouring the paint into the drain was both harmful and illegal.
"Do I contact the city? I feel awful," the OP wrote.
One commenter, however, cautioned against it. The commenter recalled an elderly neighbor who allegedly received a fine of nearly $10,000 after using water to flush a latex-paint spill into a drain.
Another commenter pointed out that the OP already did what a fine is designed to promote: "You immediately decided to look it up, and have changed your disposal method in the future."
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What can be done?
Commenters noted several details that remained unclear, including what kind of paint the homeowner had poured out, suggesting that the type of paint carries different environmental risk profiles.
The disposal suggestions depended partly on the product involved. One commenter suggested letting the paint dry in the cans and throwing it away as a solid.
Several Redditors discouraged the homeowner from reporting the incident, citing possible financial consequences.
Another commenter's suggestion to speed up the drying process was mixing inexpensive kitty litter into old paint that would not dry sufficiently.
"This only works for latex paint," they cautioned.
To get guidance specific to the homeowner's location, a commenter recommended contacting a city or county's 311 information line, where available, to ask about mitigation and local recycling options for paint, oil, and batteries.
Regardless, if you're ever in a similar situation, make sure to look up disposal guidance for your own area first before making any decisions.
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