We Can Throw Away Paint Safely, Seven Gen Student Says

Special to Emmaus Patch by Clara Kennedy

You have probably used paint or at least seen it. It can come in squeeze tubes and small plastic containers and cans, but when you use it do you think of its effects? Did you ever think that paint is not only toxic to animals but also toxic to you? Even if you just inhale it? Did you know oil paints can be flammable? And finally do you know how to dispose of it correctly without it affecting the wild life or leaking into the aquifer?

If you live in the Lehigh Valley you probably don’t because there are few household hazardous waste collections around. I believe the Lehigh Valley should have more household hazardous waste collections for paint.

Do you know what happens to your paint when you throw it away? When you throw your unwanted paint away, its first stop is the landfill. Since some paints are flammable it might catch part of the landfill on fire. The paint can also leak into the aquifer. Eventually it can end up in your drinking water. If it ends up in your body somehow, it can irritate your nose, skin, eyes, throat, the adult brain, and eventually every organ. If you inhale paint it can also cause some damage. Can you prevent this? The answer is yes.

To make sure paint does not leak into the aquifer, one good way to prevent it is to deliver your paint to a household hazardous waste collection. There your unwanted paint does not affect the environment. It is an easy way to keep people from doing bad things with their paint. Once you deliver your paint to the collection either they mix new and old paints together and sell it or they mix old paints to make brand new colors and sell it. This sounds reasonable but where can you find a household hazardous waste collection in the Lehigh Valley?

Sure household hazardous waste collection is a good idea, but the Lehigh Valley has not had one in eight years! Just to get more information you have to call a number or go on a website. Just to get more info! We should do something about this! You can start by collecting others' unwanted paint and giving it to people who want it or maybe even help your community start a household hazardous waste collection.

It only takes a little effort to do something huge. That’s why I encourage you to help our community to start a household hazardous waste collection.  Even if you just spread the word about how we have not had a household hazardous waste collection in while, it will help our community a lot. You can be a hero to wildlife, Earth, and future generations. Thank you. 

Clara Kennedy, of Quakertown, is a currently a 4th grade student at Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus. Kennedy's class has been studying household hazardous waste and the students wrote opinion articles on the topic.