Green Business Model: Mich. Paint Maker Offers New Spin on Recycling

From D+D Online, January 2011

by Jill Speegle
	Post-consumer paint disposal can generate environmental headaches, but a paint and coatings manufacturer in Michigan is giving leftover paint a new and colorful life with its paint-recycling business.... (Login to read the full article)

Comment from Fred Marschall, (2/1/2011, 1:38 PM)

When I first saw thia article I said, "Who could this Michigan company be (there's not many left)"? I show have known. Good job Dan.

Comment from Jose Joven, (2/1/2011, 2:04 PM)

I knew a retired painter who did this in the 80's. Old Paul had a fantastic business buying and selling paint he got from the local paint stores. Mistints, old stock, even 5 gallon buckets that had leaks all found their way to his house. He bought the paint for a buck a gallon and after repackaging it in 5's sold it for $30-40.00 a five. Paul started out selling his paint at flea markets but eventually people found his "store". Paul owned a double and one side was dedicated to mixing and storing the paint, he lived in the other side! Paul was ahead of his time!

Comment from Karl Kardel, (2/1/2011, 3:14 PM)

Years ago when I employed 30 painters wasting and dumping thinner and left over paints was a major money loss. We would take each basic type of paint into drums, and add vehicle solids, using it as primers or stains. We would flocculate solvents, making solvents for cleaning or stain bases. Along comes the county which insists we will have to desginate the building as a 'hazardous waste site.' A death knell to value + post a .5 million bond. We went underground from there, as I could not abide dumping solvents. Most pollution stems from ignorance and is basically waste. The waste part comes from lazyness. The benefits from recycling does not seem important to the workers as it is a bother and they don't care. We started the California color revival including the "Painted Ladies" from San Francisco. I would buy from the old Dutch Boy factory hundreds of gallons of mistints and mistakes for .50 to 1.00 a gal. I would mix up colors for jobs in drums, and the clients go it at 1/2 retail. We made more money off the paint than the job. The same sources provided us with hundreds of gallons of near free paint to paint roofs. Partially to change colors from lurid pinks and greens, partially to extend life. We have coated roofs for over 35 years. So recyling paint was not just invented. Cheap comes before green, and should underly it. Karl Kardel, Karl Kardel Consultancy Problem Buildings Solutions Since 1959

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