I agree with you. We scrape the tins out and then let them dry completely. We then squash them flat and they then can go in the general waste.

Bill - always good to try and help those who do not know better, but depending on your relationship with the Environmental lead, If the client says Haz waste - then so be it David

Consider a litre tin of your paint: > More than 98% of it was spread over wood or metal surfaces in a thin film. Any volatile organics would quickly evaporate to the detriment of the environment, but nobody is bothered about that. > Another 1% is washed off brushes, rollers, pads and kettles, perhaps using additional solvents. The resulting waste may have been pured into a drain, poured onto soil or otherwise disappears. > An additional fraction of 1% will have splashed over the workman's overalls and the floor (when I'm painting this is far more than 1%, but I assume that you are dealing with professionals) >> Now, you are worrying about the last remnants in the tin! Bulk disposal is a necessary requirement and it is perhaps wrong, but understandable, that many will leave off the lid of pots of solvent-based paints to let them cure - to the detriment of the environment - before disposal as general, not hazardous, waste. After all, it is the volatile organics that are of concern and once they are gone the problem has largely resolved. It is not right to defeat environmental protection in that way, but I understand that this is a commonly used and apparently legal loophole. Perhaps these de minimis concentrations in otherwise empty tins really can be ignored

Up until recently I might have concured with Ian, that is until I read through the three MSDS's for the paint tins in front of me. All three state to be disposed of as hazardous waste including empty tins. They all contain carcengenic compounds and hence the reason for the instruction to trat as Haz Waste. Therefore in reply to the original posting, obtain the MSDS's for your tins of paint as they will give guidance as to how to dispose (at least the better ones will). Badger

I have been told that certain paints, in industrial settings, do contain carcinogenic or highly toxic ingredients. I have been told that many of the yellow paints contain lead chromate - the phrase used was 'don't chew an oil rig'. However, paints approved for sale to the general public are, I am sure, more benign.

"empty" paint tins are not waste they are valuable scrap, about £2000 a tonne for stainless.

I would not change my opinion

Providing there are no specific hazardous materials in the paint, such as lead or chromates, then cured paint is not hazardous in the European Waste Catalogue. Allowing small amounts of waste paint to dry out is far preferable to filling valuable hazardous waste sites with paint containers. Householders themselves are not subject to the legislation - it is up to the LA team to deal with as the first person controlled by legislation to handle the domestic waste stream. Having said that if the client is adamant then by all means charge the costs back to him as appropriate, subject to contract clauses though Bob