Everyday items
How should I dispose of old paint?
Use a household hazardous-waste or paint collection route when one is available. Do not pour leftover paint into drains or onto the ground.
Complete answer
The answer
Keep paint in the original labelled container when practical and make sure the lid is secure. Water-based and solvent-based products can be managed differently, so the collection operator may ask you to separate them.
Completely empty, dry containers may have a different recycling route, but the presence of paint residue changes the handling requirement. Follow the local programme rather than assuming the container belongs in metal or plastic recycling.
What to do
- Keep the container closed and labelled.
- Use a paint or hazardous-waste collection service.
- Check separate rules for empty, dry containers.
Related WasteSpot resources
These links are optional follow-up resources. The complete answer is provided above.
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