TAVARES — The Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities is celebrating National Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, Sept. 15-21, by unveiling the Paint Reuse and Redistribution Program to help reduce the amount of latex paint that is typically sent to the landfill as waste.

The Paint Reuse and Redistribution Program provides Lake County residents access to unwanted and unused latex paint. While colors are limited and subject to availability, the paint is free. Residents are able to get a limit of up to 10 gallons a month. Residents can pick up paint beginning Friday, Sept. 12, at the Lake County Central Solid Waste Management Facility, located at 131300 County Landfill Road, Tavares.

As part of its celebration of P2 Week, Lake County is participating in the Home & Lifestyle Expo on Sept. 12-14 at the Lake Square Mall, located at 10401 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg. The expo is scheduled for Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5:30 p.m. Staff and volunteers from the Department of Environmental Utilities will be available at the expo to distribute one-gallon containers of the reuse paint, while supplies last, and information about other pollution prevention strategies and green cleaning in the home.

“P2 Week is an opportunity for Lake County residents and visitors to initiate action by reducing waste and identifying opportunities to reuse and recycle,” said Daryl Smith, Director of the Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities.

On Sept. 2, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed the third week in September as Pollution Prevention Week. The proclamation reads, “By focusing on pollution prevention, Lake County can meet the challenges of having healthy communities, clean lakes, efficient government and competitive businesses.”

For more information about pollution prevention, call the Lake County Department of Environmental Utilities at (352) 343-3776.