News

Recycle your Unwanted Paint with PaintCare

Jill Reeves, Solid Waste Education Coordinator, No Phone Number Available

Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 3:42 p.m.

Updated April 2, 2025

Households and businesses generate millions of gallons of unused and leftover paint each year. It’s common knowledge that paint contains harmful chemicals, so what we do with that extra paint matters.

Proper paint disposal is essential, especially for oil-based paints, which contain hazardous materials such as solvents and heavy metals. If not disposed of correctly, these substances can contaminate soil, water, and air, posing serious risks to both the environment and human health.

Our community relies on the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer for water, with the Spokane River at its heart. Protecting these vital resources is essential. Improperly disposing of paint can contaminate groundwater and soil, harming aquatic life. Additionally, certain compounds in paint contribute to air pollution, while flammable solvents pose fire hazards if not handled and disposed of properly.

PaintCare provides convenient drop-off sites throughout Washington where residents can recycle and manage unwanted paint. This statewide takeback program is funded by fees collected on the sale of paint products in Washington.

Where to Drop Off Your Paint

Households and businesses can drop off unused paint at various retailers participating in the PaintCare program, including:

Sherwin-Williams
Rodda Paint
Ace Hardware
Mallory Paint Store
Miller Paint

Please check the PaintCare website to confirm how much paint each site can accept, and call ahead to confirm their hours and availability.

For those looking to donate paint for resale, consider:

Habitat for Humanity
Overstock Builders Surplus

Spokane County Drop-Off Locations

Spokane County residents can also bring household hazardous waste, including paint, to:

Spokane County North Transfer Station – 22123 N Elk-Chattaroy Rd, Colbert, WA 99005
Spokane County Valley Transfer Station – 3941 N Sullivan Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
City of Spokane Waste to Energy (WTE) Facility – 2900 S Geiger Blvd, Spokane, WA 99208

Paint Drop-Off Requirements

To be accepted, paint must:

Be in its original container with a legible manufacturer’s label
Be securely sealed with its original lid
Be in containers no larger than 5 gallons

Not accepted: Open, leaking, or unlabeled cans.

Dry and solidified latex paint cannot be recycled and should be disposed of in the garbage.

Residents can drop off up to 15 gallons per visit. Businesses and contractors should contact PaintCare directly to arrange for pick-up or commercial drop-off locations.