One of the challenges with this project is how many empty plastic paint cans (or other containers) it generates. They are very sturdy and well sealed containers, so there's a lot that can be done with them. I've found a few solutions so far:

- The brand I'm working with now is made of #5 plastic, which is polypropylene. Because I'm rinsing them out, I'm making them clean enough to recycle, and that kind of plastic is accepted for recycling in my city and many other places. That said, I know that recycling still has limits and whenever possible, reuse is a better option.

- When making acrylics or oils I could just use them as containers for the new paint.

- I'm using them to store all the components of the paint I'm making now. The gum arabic/honey/glycerin mixture is all suspended in water and needs to be stored sealed. Empty cans are great for this. I'm also using them for dried pigment while I accumulate it before making a batch of paint.

- Polypropylene can be made into printer filament, and could potentially be made into paint pans for watercolors. The downside to this is that my containers are black, and white pans are preferred to show the color more clearly.

- Metal cans are much easier to recycle in many areas, so for systems that use metal cans they could simply be taken to a metal collection facility.

- Clean empty containers could just be listed on craigslist or facebook marketplace for others to collect and use!