As part of the Annual Team Green Trash Bash at the Lake Charles Civic Center, LAIA provides a paint collection, recycling and disposal program. Area residents bring their used paint and through this program an average of 1200 gallons of quality paint is recycled for non-profit organizations rather than being sent to local landfills for disposal.

 

On Saturday, April 17th, the Members of the Lake Area Industry Alliance (LAIA) once again partnered with Team Green to provide Paint Recycling at Trash Bash.  The event was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center.  It was an effort to help clean up the city of Lake Charles, by recycling paint and many other things.  Larry DeRoussel, LAIA Executive Director, said,"Your old liquid latex or oil-based paint, when added to other like paints and properly mixed, can be recycled into beautiful colors of quality interior or exterior paints".

 

 

Many volunteers brought their old paint for LAIA to give it new life.  The recycled paint was placed in five-gallon buckets by type and color.  It was then give to non-profit organizations for use, and to the Salvation Army for sale in its Thrift Store.  It was an interesting way to help the environment and the economy. 

 

One hundred and thirty-seven volunteers from the LAIA member companies recycled 1580 gallons of paint and filled up one 25 yard roll off box with empty cans.

 

"According to some studies, nearly half of all household hazardous waste generated is paint related.  By recycling usable paint, we are keeping it out of our local landfills," said DeRoussel.