
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994                   TAG: 9410270074
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PAINT EXCHANGE FRIENDLY TO ENVIRONMENT AND BUDGET|

Montgomery County residents said this summer they wanted a way to dispose of unwanted paint.

Saturday, Blacksburg's Recycling Office and the Montgomery County Improvement Council will help them get rid of it. And folks needing latex paint can pick up some - for free.

The Latex Paint Exchange is the county's first. The purpose of the event is to reuse material that would otherwise end up in the Mid County Landfill, said Dawn French, coordinator for the improvement council.

"We have no idea what to expect," she said. "But we've gotten a lot of support from volunteer groups and local businesses."

The swap works like this: people with old paint will bring it to Blacksburg High School parking lot Saturday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Volunteers will help remove the paint from cars and check to make sure it's in good shape. The paint must be in the original container and latex-based. The paint will then be divided by color and those needing new paint can pick and choose.

Volunteer organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and theater groups, will probably take the larger quantities, French said.

"Hopefully, we won't have any paint left over at the end of the day," she said.

If there is any leftover paint, it will be treated and taken to the landfill. The cans will be recycled.

French said the idea for the project came this summer after the recycling office surveyed people at Steppin' Out, Blacksburg's downtown festival, to gauge their concern when it came to dealing with different household chemicals. The biggest concerns focused on paints, motor oil and batteries.

"We had heard of paint exchanges," French said. "They're held pretty commonly in Vermont and out West.... We sort of went from there."

Participants in the event will receive information about the proper handling of painting related products, nontoxic alternatives to common household chemicals and steel paint can recycling.

For further information, call the Montgomery County Improvement Council at 382-5793.

by CNB