Safe & Responsible Oil Paint Disposal: A Comprehensive Guide

Disposing of latex or water-based paint is easy, but properly disposing of oil-based paint is more difficult because it's considered household hazardous waste. Ensure that you take the proper precautions in order to avoid contaminating the environment.

Instructions

• 1

  Attempt to use any leftover oil based paint in order to avoid disposal. If the paint is white, cream or another neutral color, considering mixing any small leftover amounts with other oil-based paints. However, don't mix any leftover oil-based paints with latex, also called water-based paints. The water-based paint will then be deemed hazardous waste.

• 2

  Find a nonprofit organization, such as a shelter or after-school program, that will accept donations of leftover paint.

• 3

  Contact your local city hall to inquire about hazardous waste disposal in your area. In addition to a consistent site that takes care of hazardous waste, some areas also have a yearly hazardous waste disposal days. This may be a more convenient option because hazardous waste dumps often charge a fee for the disposal of material each time you drop off material.