Volunteers load up donated paint for recycling in the parking lot of the Thomas and Mack Center on April 22nd.

LAS VEGAS, NV–Global Paint for Charity partnered with graduate students in the Urban Leadership program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to put on an Earth Day paint recycling event on April 22nd in the parking lots at the Thomas and Mack Center on the UNLV campus. This collaborative effort, which also involved Units of Las Vegas Moving and Portable Storage, the UNLV Rebel Recycling Center, MGM Resorts International, the Blind Center of Nevada, and students in the Harrah College of Hospitality, resulted in the collection of 6,567 pounds of paint. Seventeen dedicated volunteers collected donations from 77 participants, exemplifying GPC and UNLV’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

Global Paint for Charity, a 501c3 non-profit organization, has been at the forefront of recycling latex paint from residents and businesses since 2010. With a mission to protect the environment and assist underserved communities, GPC has recycled more than 5 million pounds of paint over the past thirteen years, redistributing it to 44 countries. UNLV Masters of Arts candidates John Brislin and Kenneth Cottrell organized the event and enlisted the help of GPC to make their initiative to recycle paint a reality. Cottrell is an executive board member for both the 100 Black Men of Las Vegas and Global Paint for Charity.

The Paint Pollution Crisis:

According to Cottrell and Breslin, paint pollution is a global crisis, with 50% of all household hazardous waste in the United States attributed to paint. Many homes in the country have anywhere from 10-20 gallons of leftover or unused paint stored in basements and garages. Shockingly, only 7% of leftover paint is currently being recycled. Paints often contain metallic pigments, which are classified as hazardous waste, including cadmium, chromium, lead, silver, barium, mercury, arsenic, and selenium. Proper disposal and recycling of paint are essential to prevent these harmful chemicals from contaminating the environment and endangering public health.

Building Partnerships for a Greener Future:

The Earth Day paint recycling event successfully established a valuable partnership between Global Paint for Charity and the UNLV Rebel Recycling program. By collaborating with Units of Las Vegas and the university, the event organizers ensured that the community had a convenient and accessible location to drop off their unused paint. This new partnership highlights these organizations’ collective effort to create a sustainable future and promote responsible waste management.

Aiming for Greater Impact:

The success of this event sets the stage for an annual paint drive in the parking lot of the Thomas and Mack Center. Cottrell and Breslin have a goal of recycling 55,000 pounds of paint at future Earth Day recycling events at UNLV. This initiative aims to expand the impact of Global Paint for Charity’s mission and make a significant contribution to reducing paint pollution. By providing a centralized location for paint drop-offs, event organizers hope to encourage more individuals and businesses to participate actively in paint recycling and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

The Earth Day paint recycling event was a resounding success. The dedication of the volunteers and generous contributions from community members resulted in the collection of 6,567 pounds of paint. This event not only addressed the pressing issue of paint pollution but also fostered valuable partnerships between Global Paint for Charity and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. GPC would like to thank Cottrell and Breslin, UNLV ,Units of Las Vegas Moving and Portable Storage, the UNLV Rebel Recycling Center, MGM Resorts International, the Blind Center of Nevada, students in the Harrah College of Hospitality and everyone who collaborated to make this project a reality. 

As the world faces the challenges of environmental degradation and waste management, initiatives like this paint recycling event serve as crucial steps toward a sustainable future. By supporting Global Paint for Charity’s mission, you can help to protect the environment, assist underserved communities by providing them with adequate paint resources and collectively make a positive impact on our planet. Contact Global Paint at 855-853-7772 or at info@globalpaints.org to pledge your support, or donate here.