Free Paint Recycling

Paint should not be disposed of in your trash, recycling, compost, or large item collection.

Recycling paint is more convenient than ever in Colorado. Residents and businesses in Colorado can take unwanted, leftover paint for recycling to participating paint retailers (paint, hardware, and home improvement stores) that have volunteered to take back paint.

There is no charge for dropping off paint at any PaintCare drop-site.

FIND A PAINT DROP-OFF NEAR YOU

Please note:

  • Leaking, unlabeled and empty containers are NOT accepted at drop-off sites.
  • Architectural paints (or PaintCare Products) are defined as interior and exterior architectural coatings sold in containers of 5 gallons or smaller. However, they do not include aerosol products (spray cans), industrial maintenance (IM), original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or specialty coatings.

Accepted Paint Products

  • Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings)
  • Deck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric)
  • Primers, sealers, undercoaters
  • Stains
  • Shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)
  • Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellents (not tar or bitumen-based)
  • Metal coatings, rust preventatives
  • Field and lawn paints

*These products above do have fees when purchased

NOT Accepted Paint Products

  • Paint thinners, mineral spirits, solvents
  • Aerosol paints (spray cans)
  • Auto and marine paints
  • Art and craft paints
  • Caulking compounds, epoxies, glues, adhesives
  • Paint additives, colorants, tints, resins
  • Wood preservatives (containing pesticides)
  • Roof patch and repair
  • Asphalt, tar and bitumen-based products
  • 2-component coatings
  • Deck cleaners
  • Traffic and road marking paints
  • Industrial Maintenance (IM) coatings
  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) (shop application) paints and finishes 

 *The products listed above do not have fees when purchased

Tips for Reducing Paint Waste:

  1. Buy just what you need. Save money and reduce waste, by knowing how much paint you really need before going to the paint store. Painting projects require about one gallon of paint to cover 400 square feet of smooth surface.  
  2. Choose the RIGHT color before buying a quart of paint. Buying quart after quart of paint in order to find the perfect shade of color wastes paint and money. Determine if you’ve picked the right paint color a more economical way  by getting “wet paint samples” at one of the following Denver Metro Area locations:
    • Belcaro Paint & Decorating Center: 1 ½ ounce samples available for all paints sold. (5475 Leetsdale Dr., 303-757-5435)
    • Lowes: ½ pint samples available for all paints sold at some locations. Call stores ahead to confirm availability.
    • Or, ask your local paint supply or hardware store if they provide "wet samples" in vials or sizes smaller than a quart.

 

Paint Recycling Events

Find upcoming paint recycling events HERE!

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