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August 3, 2009

Getting Rid of Basement Stuff

I have about 50 cans of paint that the previous owner of my house so kindly left for me in my basement. I also have grout, adhesive, deck stain, and other such remnants of home improvement/renovation projects from long ago. I've opened all the paint cans so they can dry out and I can throw away, but how do I get rid of all of the rest of it? And, is there a way to get rid of it all at once, w/o paying $$$ to a rubbish removal service?

Posted by new2hood at 9:49 AM | Comments (9)
Categories: Renovation

Comments

Thanks, but these links only address my paint (and, given the quantities they accept, it would take me over a year to get rid of all of it). I'd actually seen these pages, and have called 311, but all they do is read what's on these pages to me, which doesn't address the rest of the stuff i need to get rid of.

Posted by: new2hood at August 3, 2009 10:16 AM

Instead of letting it all dry out and go to waste, you could try donating it to build it green in Queens

Posted by: Deda at August 3, 2009 10:36 AM

It's all REALLY old. Like, 20 years old.

Posted by: new2hood at August 3, 2009 10:48 AM

NYC Dept. of Sanitation used to schedule neighborhood hazardous waste collection days. They don't do that anymore. You need to drop stuff at their collection site, or pay a rubbish removal service (which doesn't really cost that much). For other options, mostly not related to OP unless their items are reusable, see:
http://www.cenyc.org/recycling/resources
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/new_homes/new_homes.shtml

Posted by: vinca at August 3, 2009 11:31 AM

vinca - "Doesn't really cost that much." Who do you use? I've paid through the nose!

Posted by: Arkady at August 3, 2009 11:44 AM

Recently used Greg's Express. Found them reasonable and expedient for the number of men, hours, and items removed.

Posted by: vinca at August 3, 2009 12:58 PM

I have had a similar problem and I suggest that once the paint is dry, you can just put it out with regular trash. Just bag them up in black plastic and make sure the bags are not too heavy. Keep the number of bags reasonable - 5 to 10 and with three collections per week it will be gone in a few months. I know this is a hassle but its free and does not require hiring questionable carters who may be dumping your stuff illegaly.

Posted by: JoeBushwick at August 3, 2009 2:17 PM

I called 311 a few years ago when I had the same question. I was told that metal paint cans can be RECYCLED as long as the paint is dried out. Also, here's an excerpt of what can be recycled as quoted from the Department of Sanitation page on nyc.gov...

"metal cans (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, dried-out paint cans, etc.)"

Put them in clear bags, and put them out with your recycling over the course of time. Don't waste your money on a rubbish removal service.

Posted by: pwhite at August 3, 2009 3:19 PM

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