Home & Garden...

A large part of green building that people often forget to work into their plans is proper disposal of building materials. If you build green, then toss items into landfills to rot for 100 years, or pour finishes down the drain, you're missing a big part of the green building process.

We could discuss any number of excess building materials, but because paint and other finishes are a biggie item, used by many, let's look at that first.

Even if you're buying non-toxic paints and finishes you still need to dispose of them properly. Just because it's a greener finish, doesn't make it cool to dump it down your drain where it can enter our water supplies, streams, groundwater, and so fourth.If you do happen to have some of the more toxic finishes around, then proper disposal is even more important.

Here are some steps you can take:

• First, you should be buying non-toxic paints and finishes whenever possible. Not that their disposal is any less important, but why not be more green?

• Don't buy more paint than you need. If you aren't sure how much paint you're going to need, ask a professional - even the fellows at your local hardware store should be able to help you estimate paint needs, both exterior and interior.

• If you do end up with left over paint - consider it's other uses before tossing. Keep it well marked and use it for home touch ups, your next dog house, tree house, refurbishing bookshelves, and more. Let your kids use it for art, paint birdhouses; donate it to a school or community center.

• Re-mix it. Did you know that if you have many different left-over paint colors, than all of them mixed together will almost always create a dull gray color that's perfect as a primer. Now you do.

• If you've honestly used all you can, give the excess to it a hazardous waste collection organization in your community. Your local trash or recycling program will be able to tell you where to go.

[photo via stock.xchng]