This article was co-authored by Andres Matheu. Andres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.
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When you're finished with a household paint project, you might be left with a half-used can of paint to get rid of. Depending on what type of paint you have, you may be able to reuse or recycle it. If not, you'll likely need to take it to a hazardous waste. Read on to learn more about how to safely dispose of paint.
Steps
Disposing of Latex Paint
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1Consider saving it for a later project. Latex paint can be stored for up to a year and then mixed and reused for a later project. It won't be the exact color you need, but it's useful to use as a base paint or to paint interior surfaces that won't be seen. This way, you can use up all the paint without needing to throw it away.[1]
- Tightly seal the used paint can and store it upside-down in a cool, dry storage area.
- Make sure the stored paint is out of reach of children and pets.
- If you want to use the exact same color again, make sure to write the paint formula down in permanent marker on the paint can lid.
- Paint may be good for up to 5 years, so check to see if it's in good shape before you throw it out.[2]
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2Look into community paint recycling programs. If you don't have use for your leftover paint, someone else might. Look up community paint recycling programs in your area.[3]
- Waste haulers, schools, and municipalities often have programs to collect paint, mix it, and use it on community projects.
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3Mix the paint with a hardener before you dispose of it. Don't just throw away a can of liquid paint—that's actually against the law in some places. Instead, purchase waste paint hardener, which is a powder that you mix into the paint. After a few hours, the paint will harden, and you can simply throw the can away.[4]
- You can also try mixing kitty litter into the paint until it hardens.[5]
- Never pour paint into a drain. It can damage your pipes and it isn't good for the water supply.
- Don't pour paint into the ground. This is hazardous to the soil.
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Disposing of Oil-Based Paint
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1Check the label to see if any lead or hazardous materials are in it. Most old paints call for hazardous waste disposal. Hybrid paints will also need special disposal.[8]
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2Remove the lid and let the paint air dry in the can. To speed up the process, stir in an absorbent material such as clay kitty litter, sawdust, or leftover concrete mix.
- Never pour oil paint into a drain or into the ground. It is considered hazardous waste, and disposing of it this way is illegal.
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3Take the paint cans and stains to a hazardous waste facility. You can visit search.earth911.com/?what=Paint and enter your zip code to find one close to you.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow long does interior paint last?
Andres MatheuAndres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.
Commercial PainterPaint can last for up to 5 years. Open the paint and check its consistency to see if it's still good to use before you toss it out.
Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow do I make paint safe for disposal?Andres MatheuAndres Matheu is the Owner of Hömm Certified Painting Systems, an Interior and Exterior Residential painting business based in the Washington, DC Metro area. Andres specializes in interior and exterior residential painting, color consultations, cabinet refinishing, wallpaper removal, and epoxy flooring among other services. An EPA Lead-safe Certified Firm, Hömm Certified Painting Systems has been awarded the Best of Houzz 2019 Service, Angie's List Super Service Award 2019, and Northern Virginia Magazine's 2018 Best Home Experts (painters) award.
Commercial PainterMix a paint hardening powder into the paint—after a few hours, the paint will harden, and then you can dispose of it. You can also mix kitty littler into the paint to harden it.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionCan you throw away old paint?
wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can throw away old paint but how you dispose of it depends on the type of paint and your local regulations. It is best to try to find a paint recycling program so the paint can be used for some other project and not wasted. If that’s not possible, tip latex paint into a plastic container lined with kitty litter or paper scraps, then let it dry and toss it into the trash. (However, if the latex paint is really old, like 1980s), take it to the hazardous waste facility as it may contain toxic chemicals.) If it’s oil-based paint, take it to a hazardous waste facility. The steps for dealing with both types of paint are explained above.Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.
Warnings
- Paint thrown in regular trash can make a terrible mess when the garbage truck compacts the cans and the paint is released. This is one of the main reasons most municipalities require paints to be dried out or solidified before disposal.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- It may be illegal, and some would say that it is immoral to sneak your paint out with the household trash or throw it in someone's dumpster. When you place your trash in someone else's dumpster, you are stealing trash removal services. This kind of behavior is often punishable by stiff fine. Improperly disposed paint poses an environmental hazard that could linger for eons.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/paint-disposal-options
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
- ↑ https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-paint/
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
- ↑ Andres Matheu. Commercial Painter. Expert Interview. 28 July 2020.
- ↑ https://www.rethinkrecycling.com/residents/materials-name/paint
- ↑ http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/paint-disposal-options
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/recycle/frequent-questions-recycling#hhwrecycling
About This Article
To safely dispose of latex paint, look into community paint recycling programs to see if someone else could make use of the paint. If you can't find a paint recycling program, pour the paint into a plastic container filled with kitty litter or paper scraps, let the paint dry, then throw it away with the trash. Latex paint is not considered toxic waste, so it doesn't have to be taken to a toxic waste site. Never pour paint down a drain or into the ground, though! For tips on safely disposing of oil-based paint, read on!
