Paint

Illegal in Garbage & Drains
Hazardous Waste

FREE Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Mattress Collection Event (Richmond, CA) – ONE DAY ONLY!

Saturday, September 21, 2024

More Info

Get Reminder

Residents, non-profit groups, and small quantity generators located in West Contra Costa County can drop off unwanted or leftover paint and paint cans at the West County Household Hazardous Waste Facility in North Richmond.

The following are banned from the trash:

  • Latex paint (empty and dry metal paint cans can be placed into your recycling bin)
  • Oil-based paint
  • Nonempty aerosol paint or solvent cans (all non-empty aerosol cans are banned from the trash; if completely empty, aerosol cans can be placed in your recycling bin)
  • Solvents (includes materials such as paint thinners, finger nail polish remover, etc.)
storm drain

Never Dump Down the Drain

Dispose of oil- or water-based paint as Household Hazardous Waste. Never dump paint down the drain because it can contaminate lakes and rivers.

paintcare

Recycle for Free With PaintCare

Recycle your unwanted house paint, primer, stain, or varnish for free at a PaintCare drop-off location. Both latex and oil-based products are accepted. All locations accept up to five gallons per visit (some take more). Paint containers should be five gallons in size or smaller and have original labels. No leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers. Spray paint is not accepted. For a list of products accepted for recycling or to find a drop-off location, visit PaintCare’s website.

empty-paint-can

Throw Away Empty Cans

Let empty paint cans dry out before disposing of them. Then, throw them in the trash without the lid, in order to show that the can is empty.

Did You Know?

We All Buy Too Much Paint

Leftover paint is the single largest waste stream that local HHW programs find themselves managing. According to the EPA, approximately 10 percent of all paint sold each year will not be used.