News

Aug 16, 2023

Paint recycling

Learn how to recycle unwanted and leftover paint at drop-off locations throughout Washington. PaintCare is a nonprofit operating in Washington and other states. There are PaintCare drop-off locations

Learn how to recycle unwanted and leftover paint at drop-off locations throughout Washington.

PaintCare is a nonprofit operating in Washington and other states. There are PaintCare drop-off locations throughout King County and Washington. You can recycle most paint at these locations if you are a Washington resident, businesses, or government agency.

There is no charge to recycle paint at PaintCare locations.

Find your nearest PaintCare drop-off location.

Accepted items:

Visit PaintCare for more information about accepted products.

Learn more about PaintCare.

Residential customers can dispose of oil-based paints, paint strippers, and paint thinners at King County Hazardous Waste Disposal Locations.

For information on disposing oil-based paints, visit the Hazardous Waste Management Program or call 206-296-4692.

If you are a business, please visit Business Hazardous Waste or call 206-263-8899.

If you are unable to go to a PaintCare drop-off site, latex paint, water-based stains, and clear finishes can be disposed of in the garbage. Once the latex paint has hardened or solidified, place the can in your garbage container with the lid off. The garbage hauler needs to see that the paint has hardened.

Do not put latex paints or water-based stains in the garbage if they are liquid. Liquid latex paint can damage or clog septic fields and sewage treatment plants. Illegal disposal of latex paint also poses environmental hazards on the ground.

Be sure it's a latex paint or stain. Look on the label for the word "latex" or for directions to clean up or thin with water. To solidify latex paint and water-based stains use the following methods: