latex paint

Latex Paint (DRIED ONLY): Latex paint is NOT a hazardous material. But LIQUID latex paint CANNOT be put into your garbage. It must be completely dry and hard. To harden paint, pour it into a box lined with a sturdy piece of plastic. To speed the process, add kitty litter, sawdust or a hardener purchased at a hardware store. 

Once completely hardened, lift and twist the plastic and dry paint out of the box and then put it into another bag and toss into trash. All paint cans must be rinsed and wiped clean. Wipe and put the lids separately into your garbage. A paint can with a lid on it is perceived as still having liquid paint inside. Your waste hauler will not check to see if lidded cans are empty and might not take the trash away. 

Once rinsed, metal latex paint cans that are not rusted can be recycled. Rinsed plastic, or rusty metal, latex paint cans may be put in the trash. Remember: Buy the minimum amount needed for projects. Use old latex paint for craft projects or see if friends or neighbors want the paint.

Most acrylic paint is also water based and can be handled in the same manner as latex paint. Once dried it can be disposed of in your garbage.

Oil based paints must be handled through our Household Hazardous Waste disposal program. Click here for more information.