How do I Dispose of Old Paint?

With DIY home projects on the rise, hardware stores are experiencing high volumes of paint sales as we stay home and work on projects we’ve been putting off. Once the project is complete, however, it’s important to know how to properly dispose of any leftover paint. The first thing you need to do is determine what type of material you are working with.

Oil-based paints are considered hazardous and must always be disposed of at a local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection sites or events. If improperly disposed of, these paints can leak into the ground or contaminate septic tanks.

Latex, or water-based paints are the most common paints sold at your local hardware store. It’s used on interior and exterior walls. Latex paint can also be handled at HHW collection sites, however, because it is not considered hazardous and is very expensive to manage, the Illinois EPA suggests using alternative methods of latex paint disposal.

Alternative Paint Removal Methods

Donate it. Check with your local community center, place of worship or local theater. They are often working on projects with limited budgets!
Check with local hardware stores. They may have a take-back or paint recycling program available.
Save it! You never know when a project might come up. If sealed properly, latex paint is good for up to ten years! Oil-based paint can last even longer!

Dry it Out. Put it at the Curb.

If none of these are viable options for you, latex paint can be placed out with your regular household garbage if it is in a solid form. You can do this by leaving the lid off the can and letting the paint harden. To accelerate this process, place kitty litter, sand or shredded paper in the can. Once dry, you can place the paint can, lid off, next to your garbage cart on your regular pick up day.