How to dispose of old paint
Leftover paint is the most common item people bring to household hazardous waste sites. How you get rid of it depends on two things: whether it is latex or oil-based, and whether your state has a PaintCare program.
- Oil-based paint, stain, varnish, thinner
- Treat as hazmat. Take it to a household hazardous waste drop-off or event.
- Latex (water-based) paint
- Rules vary. Many sites take liquid latex; some won’t take dried latex or empty cans. Check your local program.
- PaintCare states
- 12 states + DC have free PaintCare drop-off sites.
- Florida, New Jersey and Texas
- No PaintCare program. Use a city or county household hazardous waste site.
Latex vs oil-based: how to tell
Check the label. Latex and acrylic paints say “clean up with soap and water.” Oil-based or alkyd paints say to clean up with mineral spirits or paint thinner, and carry flammability warnings. If the label is gone, treat the can as oil-based and take it to a hazmat drop-off.
Before you go
- Keep paint in its original, closed container with the label on.
- Never mix paints or other chemicals together.
- Check the site’s quantity limit and residency rule, and follow any transport instructions on the official page.
PaintCare drop-off: where it applies
PaintCare is a nonprofit run by paint manufacturers. It operates drop-off programs in states with paint stewardship laws: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington, DC, according to paintcare.org (checked Thu, Oct 22, 2026). In those states many paint and hardware stores take leftover paint during business hours.
By state
| State | PaintCare | Where to take paint |
|---|---|---|
| California | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites at paint and hardware stores, plus household hazardous waste sites and ABOP sites. 97 California programs list paint as accepted. |
| Florida | No | County household hazardous waste centers. 66 Florida sites list paint as accepted. |
| New Jersey | No | County household hazardous waste facilities and collection days, which take oil-based paint (most do not take latex paint). 13 New Jersey programs list paint as accepted. |
| New York | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites at paint and hardware stores, plus household hazardous waste sites and collection events. 23 New York programs list paint as accepted. |
| Texas | No | City and county household hazardous waste sites, events and home pickup. 98 Texas programs we have checked list paint as accepted; most others have not published their lists yet. |
| Colorado | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Connecticut | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Illinois | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Maine | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Maryland | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Minnesota | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Oregon | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Rhode Island | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Vermont | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Washington | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| Washington, DC | Yes | PaintCare drop-off sites plus local household hazardous waste programs |
| All other states | No | Local household hazardous waste programs (state pages coming) |
What the sites we list say about paint
Quoted from each site’s official accepted-items list.
| Site | Paint rules (official wording) |
|---|---|
| Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste Facility - Oakland Alameda County, CA | Accepted: paint and coatings (latex, oil-based, stains, varnishes, thinners) |
| Randall Street S.A.F.E. Center (Sun Valley) Los Angeles County, CA | Accepted: paints, stains and solvents |
| Napa-Vallejo Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility Napa County, CA | Accepted: latex and oil-based paints Accepted: paint thinner and strippers |
| Bakersfield Special Waste Facility Kern County, CA | Accepted: paint and paint-related products (latex and oil base) |
| Agua Mansa Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility Riverside County, CA | Accepted: Paint, stain, varnish, adhesive, paint thinner, resin, epoxy, caulking and wood preservatives |
| Miami-Dade West Dade Home Chemical Collection Center Miami-Dade County, FL | Accepted: Oil-based paints Accepted: latex paints still in liquid form |
| Citrus County Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Central Landfill) Citrus County, FL | Accepted: paint thinner/mineral spirits Accepted: latex paint (only if still liquid) Accepted: solvent or oil-based paint and stains Accepted: aerosol paints and foams Accepted: paint strippers Accepted: driveway/concrete paint and sealer |
| Hillsborough County Sheldon Road Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site Hillsborough County, FL | Accepted: paint (latex and oil-based), primer, stain, thinner, stripper, varnish Limit: Paint: 10 one-gallon or 5 five-gallon containers per month |
| Pasco County household hazardous waste Collection Center - West Pasco (Hays Road) Pasco County, FL | Accepted: latex and oil-based paint (30 gal/day) Limit: paint over 30 gal/day needs approval |
| SWA Home Chemical & Recycling Center - West Palm Beach Palm Beach County, FL | Accepted: paints, stains, glues and solvents |
| Burlington County Household Hazardous Waste Facility (Resource Recovery Complex) Burlington County, NJ | Accepted: flammables (petroleum distillates, paint thinners, varnish, oil-based paint, adhesives, automotive products) Accepted: toxics (rust remover, paint remover, pool chemicals, weed killer) |
| Middlesex County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day (Middlesex College, Edison) Middlesex County, NJ | Accepted: paints (latex and oil) Accepted: paint thinner |
| BCUA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Moonachie) Bergen County, NJ | Accepted: paints and varnishes (all types) |
| Hunterdon County Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Day (Route 12 County Complex) Hunterdon County, NJ | Accepted: oil-based paint (up to 10 gallons free) Accepted: paint thinner Not accepted: water-based (latex and acrylic) paint |
| Westchester County Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) Westchester County, NY | Accepted: oil and latex paint, wood preservatives and stains |
| Monroe County ecopark Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Monroe County, NY | Accepted: oil-based and latex paint (more than 1/3 can full) |
| Oneida-Herkimer Household Hazardous Waste Facility (Utica) Oneida County, NY | Accepted: Paint, paint thinner and paint stripper |
| Broome County Household Hazardous Waste Facility (Broome County Landfill) Broome County, NY | Paint accepted (see list) |
| DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Site - Brooklyn (Greenpoint) Kings County, NY | Accepted: paint Limit: paint up to 5 gallons |
| Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Facility Harris County, TX | Accepted: paint and paint-related products (latex, oil-based, varnishes, thinners) Not accepted: empty paint containers Not accepted: dried latex paint Limit: 1- and 5-gallon paint containers combined may not exceed 30 |
| City of Houston Environmental Service Center - South Harris County, TX | Accepted: paints latex and oil base (25 gal max) Accepted: paint stains/thinners (25 gal max) Limit: paint 25 gal |
| Lubbock household hazardous waste drop-off (1631 84th Street) Lubbock County, TX | Accepted: paints (oil-based or some anti-mildew latex) |
FAQ
Is old paint hazardous waste?
Oil-based (alkyd) paint, stains, varnish and thinners contain flammable solvents and belong at a household hazardous waste drop-off. Water-based latex paint is less hazardous, and rules for it vary by program. Some take only liquid latex; some will not take dried latex.
Can I throw latex paint in the trash?
It depends on your local program, so check your city or county rules before putting any paint in the trash. Programs differ: Miami-Dade and Citrus County accept latex paint only while it is still liquid, while Harris County will not take dried latex paint or empty paint cans. The table below quotes each site.
Where can I recycle paint for free?
In the 12 PaintCare states plus DC, PaintCare drop-off sites (often paint stores) take leftover paint at no charge. Florida, New Jersey and Texas have no PaintCare program, so use your local household hazardous waste program.
How much paint can I bring?
Each program sets limits. For example, Harris County caps 1- and 5-gallon paint containers at 30 combined, and Houston’s ESCs take up to 25 gallons. The table below quotes each site.