Recycling paint
Up to 10 gallons of latex and oil-based paints and stains from residential users are accepted free of charge at the Knott Landfill Recycling Center. For more complete information on drop-off locations and tips on reducing paint waste visit the Paint & Stain Recycling page. If the paint is dried, remove the container lid and dispose of the dried paint and container as regular garbage.
The Hazardous Waste Facility will accept quantities over 10 gallons from households and businesses. A Special Waste Application is not needed for recycling business paints and stains (most latex and oil based paints and stains are accepted free of charge from businesses). You can also visit the Oregon PaintCare website for other recycling drop off locations (
http://www.paintcare.org/partners.php).
Industrial paints, aerosol paints, automotive paints, marine paints, epoxy paints and other special application paints are accepted only at the Knott Landfill Hazardous Waste Facility.
Storing paint
Store leftover paint upside down, in a cool place where it can't freeze, and where it won't hurt anything if a can leaks a little. Full cans keep better. Heat accelerates deterioration, so try not to store it in direct sunlight, a hot attic/garage, or next to something warm like a water heater or furnace.
The key to storage is keeping air out of the can. Don't wipe the brush on the lip/rim of the can while painting. Paint will get in the groove (called the "chime") and make it difficult to seal the lid properly. Before closing the can, carefully wipe the "chime" and the rim of the lid free of paint residue.
Use a permanent marker pen to write notes about the paint on the bottom of the can (e.g., paint manufacturer, B-24 R-66 (color code), bathroom trim, 12/2000 (date purchased). If you won't be able to see the bottom in it's storage location, also write the information on the side of the can, or on a label you put on the side.
How to determine if stored paint is usable: If the paint will mix when stirred, it is probably usable. Oil-based paint can be usable for up to fifteen years. Latex paint is usable if it is less than ten years old and has not been repeatedly frozen and thawed.
The best way to determine if latex paint is usable after it has been frozen is to brush the paint on newspaper. If there are lumps, the paint is not usable.
Give away what you don’t use: Contact your neighbor, local schools, theatre groups, churches, or community centers to see if others can use your leftover paint.
Safely dispose of or recycle what’s left: Air-dry small quantities of latex paint (one inch of a can) for disposal. Simply remove the lid and leave the can in an outdoor place away from pets and children. Once all the paint is completely dry, place the open can and lid in your garbage.
Larger quantities of latex and oil-based paints can be brought to participating stores or a hazardous waste collection event.
Thrifty solvent tips
- After you wash your brushes and rollers in paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine, let the used solvent solution sit for a few hours.
- Once the paint particles have settled to the bottom, carefully pour the clean solvent into a clearly labeled container, and then properly store for future use.
- Save the old, unusable solvent and paint particles for the next household hazardous waste collection event.
