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Today marks the beginning of Colorado Recycles Week, the state’s annual effort to increase awareness about the value of recycling, waste diversion and what’s often called the circular economy.

Sonya Hansen, Colorado program manager with the nonprofit PaintCare, said now is a perfect time to make your home more cozy before the cold weather settles in by cleaning out any old paint cans cluttering your basement or garage.

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She said there are now more than 200 sites across Colorado, including paint retailers and hardware stores, where you can safely drop off your old paint.

"We’ve received and processed more than 7 million gallons of paint since 2015, when the program began," said Han Senator "And at the end of 2024, 86 percent of our total latex paint collected was turned back into new recycled content paint."

Last year, PaintCare’s Colorado program collected more than 841,000 gallons of leftover paint, and most of it was recyclable.

Solvents in oil paint pose the biggest fire and environmental risks, but latex paints can also damage sewage systems. There is no charge to drop off leftover paint at locations across Colorado, which can be found online at PaintCare.org.

When your leftover paint arrives at a recycling center, it’s strained to remove any impurities. Paint recyclers then add tints to make colors, and pour it into a new can ensuring it’s shelf stable and safe.

That can then re-enters the marketplace as recycled-content paint sold in places such as Habitat for Humanity’s discount ReStore outlets. But Hansen said you can also make good use of leftover paint closer to home.

"Paint is an easily recyclable material," said Han Senator "Paint can be given to a neighbor or a friend, a high school theater group to paint sets with. So every time we landfill perfectly good paint, it’s like throwing money away."

If you live along the Front Range, after you drop off your old paint, there’s an opportunity to see firsthand how a wide range of recycling actually happens.

The Boulder County Recycling Center is opening its doors to the public this Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m in honor of Colorado Recycles Week. The week culminates with the annual America Recycles Day on November 15.