GreenSheen news and updates that go beyond paint recycling!
Content:
The problem with paint containers
Bucket washing and reuse service
Green business recognition
National media attention
Staff board representation
Memberships
The problem with paint containers
The issue:
- GreenSheen, is a private company and does not directly receive any money collected through the state’s Paint Stewardship program funded by a fee on new paint sales.
- The Paint Stewardship Program only funds the management of leftover paint, not the management of the metal and plastic paint containers collected through the program.
- The amount of containers collected increases around 10% annually.
- There is no money available for container reuse or recycling through the program’s existing structure.
- Valuable plastic paint cans and buckets are being sent to landfills because they cannot be reused or recycled within Colorado’s existing waste infrastructure.
- There is residual dried leftover paint in the cans and buckets that could be separated out and used to create new products if these containers were not being sent to landfills.
Our solution:
- GreenSheen applied for and received grant funding to create a paint bucket reuse operation so buckets can simply be washed and reused. This project was complete on 6/30/2023 and we are now washing and reusing buckets! Funding was provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) Program.
- GreenSheen purchased industrial plastic shredders for our facilities in Washington and New York. We also used grant funding from PaintCare to purchase another shredder for our Colorado location.
- With these shredders, we will shred plastic containers and send the regrind back to a bucket manufacturer. Once reformed, we will purchase recycled buckets back from the manufacturer.
- We will also capture and recycle the leftover paint in the cans and buckets after shredding.
Updates to come! If you have questions, please contact ewilson@greensheenpaint.com
Bucket washing and reuse service
GreenSheen built a bucket wash line that is operational at our Denver facility. We are washing and reusing buckets for our own means. We also offer bucket washing as a service to other entities interested in reusing 5-gallon buckets.
Any businesses, governmental agency, or other entities wanting to reuse buckets can utilize our wash line as a service we now provide. We will accept and wash buckets from all sectors of business, not just those from the paint sector.
Please contact ewilson@greensheenpaint.com for more information and pricing. We also sell reused buckets or can offer buckets in a wash-exchange program.
Green business recognition
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recognizes businesses that go above and beyond in implementing sustainability in their operations through the The Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN).
GreenSheen applied for the first time this year and received the second highest award of Silver. GreenSheen is thrilled to be part of the CGBN and is proud of Silver recognition. We look forward to making improvements to hopefully receive Gold recognition next year!
National media attention
- Up Paint, a branded product created through the GreenSheen process, is being considered for the Time Magazine issue of 2022’s Best Inventions! We will soon find out if we are selected or not.
- Up Paint was also recently featured on Fast Company’s list of The Most Innovative Products of 2022.
- GreenSheen will soon be featured on an episode of The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation series for our eco-friendly paint and the process behind its production.
We’re happy to see more attention on paint recycling and recycled content paint!
Staff board representation
Charles Porter, VP of Sustainability & Circular Sales
Board of Directors, New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC), April 2022 – Present.
Committee member, New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) REUSE Committee, November 2021 – Present.
Emily Wilson, Director of Special Projects & Circularity
Board of Directors, CDPHE Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD), January 2023 – Present.
Board of Directors, Recycle Colorado, January 2020 – December 2022.
Memberships
At GreenSheen, we value our memberships with trade organizations and nonprofits that align with our business. We are proud members of the following groups or support the following organizations: