Ultimate Guide: How To Dispose Of Old Paint


Paint is an easy and inexpensive way to update a room but now you're done with your project and you have left over paint. Knowing how to dispose of old paint is important for your own safety as well as the environment.

Leaving unused paint in your garage can be a safety risk because many paints contain flammable materials or materials you don't want to end up spilled or in contact with young people. However dumping unused paint in the trash or down the drain isn't good for the environment because those same materials end up in our soil and water.

So let's do ourselves and our environment a favor and get rid of our unused paint properly. Here you'll learn how to dispose of old paint and the one thing you absolutely must do before you toss it.

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How To Dispose Of Old Paint

First you have to determine if the paint is hazardous or not because there are different disposal methods depending on the paint's chemical composition. Always contact the county or authority where you live to find out about your local regulations.

Under no circumstances should you pour unused paint down a sink or drain, onto the ground, or into a street gutter. Doing so can threaten human health and the environment by damaging sewage systems and contaminating water.

Below are safe tips and guidelines for where to throw away paint in the United States.

How to dispose of oil-based paint

Oil based paint is considered hazardous waste in every state and must be taken to an appropriate hazardous waste disposal or drop off center.

PaintCare operates paint stewardship programs in eleven states where you can just drop off unused oil-based paint at a participating retailer. Paint must be in its original container and covered with a lid.

How to dispose of paint thinner

If you've used oil-based paint, you probably had to use paint thinner to clean it since oil won't rinse off in warm water like latex does. Paint thinner is a hazardous and flammable chemical prohibited in dumpsters. It can contaminate your community's water supply if poured down the drain and will kill vegetation if poured on the ground.

To dispose, let the paint thinner evaporate and dry out in a well ventilated area. You can add kitty litter to speed up the process. Once the paint thinner is dried, take it to your hazardous waste facility in an airtight glass or metal container.

Rags soaked in paint thinner must be placed in a metal or glass container and covered with water so they don't catch fire.

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Photo Source: Homewood Disposal

How to dispose of latex paint

Water-based latex paints may or may not be accepted at your local recycling facility. If you live in an area where latex paint is presumed hazardous, follow the same disposal procedures for oil-based paint.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to throw away leftover latex paint in your garbage since its mostly just water and pigments. Trash collectors will accept latex paint in the can if the paint is hardened.

How to harden latex paint

  • Remove the lid, combine the latex paint with cat litter in the can, and allow the mixture to sit until it dries. Then put the cans in a regular trash bag and toss in the garbage.
  • If you have very little paint left in the can, you can just remove the lid in a well-ventilated area or outdoors and let it dry, then toss.
  • If you don't have or want to use kitty litter, you can buy paint hardener at a hardware store and it will quickly solidify the paint.

How to dispose of paint water

Water that you've used to clean latex paint brushes and rollers is safe to be poured down the drain in a laundry or utility sink. Paint water is so diluted that it can be safely treated by the municipal water treatment plant.

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How to dispose of spray paint cans

Can you throw away empty spray paint cans? Yes! So long as they are completely empty they can be thrown in your regular garbage.

A spray can with even a drop of paint is pressurized and can explode so non-empty spray paint cans must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

If it's safe to do so you can spray out the remaining contents onto old lumber or other surface and then put in your garbage.

How To Dispose Of Paint Cans

Whether the paint is latex or oil-based if the cans are completely empty and dry you can remove the lids and dispose of them in the trash. Always check with your local waste hauler first for regulations in your area to verify how to dispose of empty pain cans.

How To Tell If Paint Is Bad

Smell it! Good paint has a vaguely sweet smell. If it smells unpleasant like sour milk or you see mold, time to say goodbye. However, if the paint has an ammonia smell, it’s still good and that smell will evaporate once it's on the walls.

If the paint has gone bad, it will look chunky like cottage cheese or be overly thick and goopy. If you open an old can of paint and you have either of these, it’s best not to use the paint and dispose of it properly. If the paint has a thin layer of "skin" formed on top, that's normal and you can lift it off the surface with a palette knife.

It’s okay to use paint that has separated. Simply turn the can upside down a few times and give it a few gentle shakes, or use a paint stick to remix the paint.

How To Store Unused Paint

If you decide to keep your leftover paint, oil based or latex paint might last two years if well-sealed and stored in a cool dark place once opened (between 60-80F). Extreme temps - freezing or hot - can ruin the paint.

Even if you decide to dispose of the leftovers, it's smart to save at least some paint for touch ups. You can transfer it to a glass canning jar so the color is visible and write the details in a Sharpie pen on the lid or an adhesive label: name, type, sheen, and where the paint was used (example: "SW Pure White 7005, flat latex, bath walls").

Make sure the lid is on tightly.

Other Paint Disposal Ideas

Give your leftover paint to a friend or neighbor who can use it, or local non profit like your child's school or a drama club. You can get rid of old paint for free at Habitat for Humanity ReStores.

If you bought too much paint for your project, many paint stores will let you return unopened cans within 30 days of when you purchased them.

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