C33 Environmental Compliance and VOC Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should leftover latex paint be properly disposed of in California?
- Pour it down the drain
- Throw sealed cans in regular trash immediately
- Take it to a household hazardous waste facility or a PaintCare drop-off site (Correct answer)
- Mix with sand and bury at the job site
Correct answer: Take it to a household hazardous waste facility or a PaintCare drop-off site
California law requires leftover latex paint to be taken to a household hazardous waste facility or a PaintCare program drop-off location for recycling or proper disposal.
Question 2: What is the PaintCare program in California?
- A state subsidy to help low-income residents purchase paint
- An industry-run paint stewardship program providing drop-off sites for leftover paint (Correct answer)
- A state certification program for professional painters
- A database of CARB-approved low-VOC paint brands
Correct answer: An industry-run paint stewardship program providing drop-off sites for leftover paint
PaintCare is a non-profit, industry-run stewardship program that operates drop-off sites for leftover paint recycling, funded by a fee on retail paint sales.
Question 3: Under California law, how must materials with residual oil-based paint (rags, brushes) be handled?
- Rinsed with water and placed in regular trash
- Stored as hazardous waste and taken to an approved disposal facility (Correct answer)
- Burned on-site to remove paint residue
- Dried in sunlight until paint hardens, then placed in regular trash
Correct answer: Stored as hazardous waste and taken to an approved disposal facility
Materials containing residual oil-based paint are classified as hazardous waste in California due to flammability and toxicity, requiring proper hazardous waste disposal.
Question 4: When a paint thinner or solvent spill occurs on a job site, what is the required action?
- Dilute with water and allow it to evaporate
- Absorb with kitty litter or sand and dispose of as hazardous waste (Correct answer)
- Pour into the nearest storm drain to disperse it
- Leave it; small spills under one gallon are not regulated
Correct answer: Absorb with kitty litter or sand and dispose of as hazardous waste
Solvent spills must be immediately contained with absorbent materials and disposed of as hazardous waste, as they are fire hazards and can contaminate groundwater.
Question 5: What document must a painting contractor keep accessible on a job site for every hazardous chemical in use?
- A business license only
- A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each hazardous product (Correct answer)
- An EPA registration certificate
- A CARB emissions permit
Correct answer: A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each hazardous product
Cal/OSHA requires that a Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly MSDS) be readily available at the job site for every hazardous chemical being used, so workers know the hazards.
Question 6: How should empty oil-based paint cans be handled for disposal in California?
- They can go in regular recycling if rinsed clean
- They must always go to a hazardous waste facility regardless of residue
- They may go in regular trash only when completely dry with no liquid residue (Correct answer)
- They must be crushed and buried at a licensed facility
Correct answer: They may go in regular trash only when completely dry with no liquid residue
Empty oil-based paint cans with completely dried, hardened residue may be disposed of in regular trash in California, but any liquid residue makes them hazardous waste.
C33 Environmental Compliance and VOC Regulations 2
How should leftover latex paint be properly disposed of in California?