Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto

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Paint - Interior & Exterior - Used/Wet

Opened, partially full, or wet containers or cans of interior and/or exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings), as well as field and lawn paints.

Household Hazardous Waste

This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.

Use up wet, leftover house paint or offer it up to community members. Drop-off paint for recycling at no cost to a local PaintCare site. Accepted items include house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish.

Paint Waste: Empty, dried out paint cans and buckets may be accepted for recycling. Stirrers, pans and brushes with dried paint go into the garbage. Chemical soaked rags are accepted by some Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. Empty spray paint belongs in the recycing bin (cap off); use up or safely dispose of cans spray paint. Water used to clean paint brushes with acrylic paint (water-based) can be poured down the drain. Paint thinner used to clean paint brushes used with oil-based paint is considered hazardous waste for residents and businesses to bring into a hazardous waste facility.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Habitat for Humanity ReStore San Jose 1608 Las Plumas Ave. San Jose Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts used/open paint for recycling.
Kelly Moore - San Lorenzo (PaintCare) 15611 Hesperian Blvd. San Lorenzo Recycle Free Drop-off
Kelly Moore 14500 San Pablo Ave San Pablo Recycle Free Drop-off
Photo Waste Recycling Co. 2980 Kerner Boulevard
Northern CA Headquarters
San Rafael Recycle Pick-up for a Fee
Kelly Moore 2050 San Ramon Velley Blvd San Ramon Recycle Free Drop-off
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Santa Cruz 719 Swift Street Santa Cruz Recycle Free Drop-off Interior or exterior latex paint only. Paint must be in its original container and containers must be full with legible labels.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Sonoma 1201 Piner Road Santa Rosa Recycle Free Drop-off Interior or exterior latex paint only. Paint must be in its original container and containers must be full with legible labels.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Monterey Bay 4230 Gigling Rd Seaside Recycle Free Drop-off Interior or exterior latex paint only. Paint must be in its original container and containers must be full with legible labels.
North State Environmental (South San Francisco) 220 South Spruce Avenue
Suite 200
South San Francisco Recycle Pick-up for a Fee
SMaRT Station 301 Carl Rd Sunnyvale Recycle Free Drop-off Must be in original container. Drop off is Monday through Friday.
Kelly Moore 2700 N Main St Walnut Creek Recycle Free Drop-off
PaintCare California Drop-off Location Finder 901 New York Ave. Washington DC Recycle Free Drop-off See website for program details.

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