Well, City of Kawartha Lakes residents can now take leftover paint, dropped off at the Fenelon Landfill, home for free. The “Drop in the Bucket” paint reuse program is a summer pilot project of the City of Kawartha Lakes waste management division. The goal of the initiative is to measure the interest of residents in making use of good quality, leftover paint as a way of reducing unnecessary disposal. For the duration of the paint reuse program pilot, which will run until October 15, paints and stains will be available – in limited quantities – at the Fenelon Landfill Reuse Centre. Residents are encouraged to bring their surplus paint to the Hazardous Household Waste Depot to ensure a steady paint stock. “We often get small quantities of perfectly good paint and stain dropped off at our facilities as the resident bringing it in will no longer have a use for it,” said Tara Stephen, landfill supervisor. “Now, through our “Drop in the Bucket” paint reuse program, it can be taken home by others, and used.” The Reuse Centre is located at the Fenelon Landfill. If you would like to take paint home, you must first check in with a landfill attendant.

If you’re planning to take paint:

• Paint is offered as a free product exchange for residential use only
• A maximum of five cans can be taken by a resident at any one time
• The city has not inspected the paint and makes no representation or warranty as to the quality, nature or quantity of the product
• Any damage to property or person resulting from the transport or use of paint removed from the facility is not the responsibility of the city
• The product may be returned to a City of Kawartha Lakes household hazardous waste depot if the paint is suspected to have been altered in any way or if the contents are not represented by the original label

If you’re dropping off paint:

• No aerosols, paint pens, craft paint or pails of paint
• Original gallon or quart cans only (no makeshift containers)
• Cans must be at least half-full and in good condition
• Original labels must be attached with the colour clearly displayed

Where is the Fenelon Landfill? You’ll find the Fenelon Landfill at 341 Mark Road.

• Travel north from Cameron on Highway 35
• Turn left (head west) onto Chambers Road
• Turn right (head north) onto Mark Road
• The landfill site is about 3.5 kilometres north on the left (west) side

When is the Fenelon Landfill open? During the summer (until October 15) the Fenelon Landfill will be open:

• Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On holiday Mondays, the landfill will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hint If you run out of paint for your cottage project, take the paint to a hardware store, and they will be able to help you find the perfect match.