Biodegradable Paint Tray
Paint roller trays have always been a nuisance to clean; you either have to use a lot of water or turpentine, depending on whether you’ve used latex or alkyd-based paint. That why the trays often get tossed in the trash when the job is done. Naughty naughty—that’s not good for the planet!
The Bio Tray is a biodegradable roller tray. It’s made from 100% recycled materials: wood pulp fibers and plastic. The wood fibers make up the bulk of the tray, and the plastic is molded to it during the heat forming of the pulp to form a water- and solvent-proof inner layer.
According to Jack Terrazas, the owner of Bio Pulp Works, the Bio Tray is 95% biodegradable and will decompose in 4-6 months. He recommends peeling off the ultra-thin plastic liner and putting it in with your other plastic recyclables. The tray cost less than $2, can be used with latex or oil paints, and are currently available at Lowe’s home centers.
Posted by Jefferson Kolle | Categories: Green Home, Yard & Garden | Permalink
(3) Comments
Two questions: don't you still have to "use a lot of water or turpentine" to get the paint out? And two, is the plastic component #1 or #2 plastic, the only kinds that most recycling places take?
There's an even easier option that doesn't require buying anything. When you're done rolling, pour the remaining paint back into your can (you can filter it through a sieve if you like) using a brush to sweep out as much as you can. That's it. Just let it dry overnight and you're ready to use it again. The thin layer of dry paint won't affect your trays performance in the least.
I have two trays so I can prime and paint without waiting for one to dry. I've painted dozens of rooms this way with the same trays and never had any trouble.
You still haven't given pricing infomation.