EarthPaint.org

EarthPaint.org is dedicated to creating jobs for people with special needs by collecting, recycling and reselling latex paint.

EarthPaint employs about a dozen individuals with special needs, through a partnership with local nonprofits. For many EarthPaint employees, who are part of a community that is often given marginal work opportunities, it’s the first time they’ve had meaningful employment. With EarthPaint, they have purposeful career opportunities, which can be life changing.

At EarthPaint, we recycle your old latex paint into a high-quality, sustainable product that works for any job, inside or outside. We aim to do three things: make a great product people will love, clean up the dirty paint industry and help our community by hiring adults with disabilities.

Founded in 2013 by Chris McCarthy, EarthPaint is a 501c(3) nonprofit based in Wood Dale, Ill. EarthPaint relies on contributions and fees for recycling old paint to fund its operations and employment of adults with disabilities.

A longtime paint professional, Chris saw lots of unwanted – but perfectly good – paint accumulate and go to waste. He wanted to find a way to keep the endless gallons of paint he encountered from entering the landfill, where it can harm the environment by leaking into the ground water.