What or where is the proper place to dispose of old paint cans?

Question

I know the local refuse will not pick them up. Who will take them?
What are you supposed to do with them when finished?

Answer 1

We take them to our local Hazardous Waste Disposal center, we take old TV's, spray paint, batteries, anything you can't throw away or recycle.

Answer 2

Your local dump should take them. They have separate areas for latex paint and then other areas for oil base paint and other things like paint thinner etc. We were told that latex paint cans can just be left open to dry out and your garbage man can pick them up. The others need to be disposed of at a special facility at the dump site. Watch for set up times for hazardous waste disposal and you should be able to dispense of them then.

Answer 3

Normally, you can dispose of old paint if the paint is dried. Take the lids off the old cans. If there is a lot of paint in the cans, try pouring the paint into a plastic lined box and allow it to dry.
If you didn't want to do this, you might try driving by an apartment complex late at night and placing the cans in their dumpster. I am not recommending you do this, just a thought.
You might be able to dispose of the paint still in liquid form, but it would probably be considered a hazardous waste and te cost for disposal would be high

Answer 4

The local dump in my area will not take paint cans unless the paint is completely dry. I recently read where Home Depot sells a drying agent cheaply for this purpose, if you do not have time to wait to allow air drying.

Answer 5

If they are empty cans of paint just remove the lid and let them dry out usually they take those , the others you should have a depot in your area where you can bring them.

Answer 6

if there latex paint cans put them in a trash bag and toss them,