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Leftover paint · Local guide

Leftover Paint Disposal: PaintCare and Separate Hazardous Waste

Check the product label and container before choosing a Portland paint drop-off. Confirm PaintCare eligibility and site capacity, use Metro guidance for excluded products, and keep paint separate from an ordinary furniture or junk pickup.

Keep these materials separate from an ordinary junk pickup. See community options below.

Find Official Drop-Off OptionsCheck Accepted Items

Choose the right disposal route

Where can I dispose of leftover paint?

Start with PaintCare's Oregon drop-off locator for qualifying paint. Accepted paint can be dropped off without a disposal charge at participating sites. Confirm your products and quantity before traveling. Excluded products or problem containers need separate guidance from Metro; they are not ordinary junk hauling items.

By JunkPDX · Updated

Local donation and disposal options

Resolve the paint destination before loading

Check the linked provider before arranging a collection or drop-off.
RouteCost or effortQualification
PaintCare Oregon drop-offNo drop-off charge for accepted productsConfirm site capacity and quantity
PaintCare product checkRead the original container labelProduct and container must meet program rules
Metro hazardous waste referralDescribe excluded or damaged containersObtain destination and handling instructions

The independent programs linked here set their own prices, acceptance rules and schedules. Arrange their collection or drop-off directly with the provider.

Official resources

Guide updated . Confirm current acceptance, prices and hours directly with the receiving program.

Step-by-step

Leftover paint: your checklist

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  1. Inventory the containers

    Read labels without opening cans. Record the product name, container size, approximate remaining amount if known, and any damage. Photograph labels so a receiving site can distinguish house paint from solvents or specialty coatings.

  2. Check product and packaging eligibility

    PaintCare accepts specified architectural coatings in original labeled containers of five gallons or less with secured lids. It excludes leaking or unlabeled containers, aerosols, and solvents. Use its product list for the exact coating rather than assuming everything stored beside paint belongs in the program.

  3. Confirm a receiving location

    Call the site about capacity, quantity limits, and arrival instructions. Describe business-generated material if applicable. For excluded items, contact Metro for an appropriate destination and handling guidance instead of trying unrelated retail counters.

  4. Keep the rest of the cleanout separate

    Label the paint group for its confirmed destination and identify ordinary unwanted household items separately. JunkPDX provides paid hauling and free onsite estimates for approved nonhazardous items. This guide does not offer paint hauling; resolve paint and other household hazards through their appropriate collection programs first.

Common questions

Before you schedule.

Does PaintCare accept every product called paint?

No. Automotive, craft, aerosol, and other excluded products need another route. Check the exact product label against the accepted-products list.

Is paint drop-off the same as free home pickup?

No. A no-charge drop-off program still requires an eligible product and a receiving location. Confirm any separate collection service directly.

Can paint go with my furniture cleanout?

Keep it separate and use the verified paint or hazardous waste destination. Do not add paint cans to a general hauling load.

Where do empty metal paint cans and spray-paint cans go in Portland?

Portland allows completely empty, dry metal paint cans and completely empty aerosol cans in mixed recycling. An aerosol that still contains liquid needs a hazardous-waste destination. PaintCare excludes empty containers. Check the City's material rules for the actual container, and ask Metro about unknown residue; do not rinse leftover paint into a drain or assume a plastic paint bucket follows the metal-can rule.

How should I count many partly full paint cans before drop-off?

Record both the number of containers and each container's capacity, alongside the product and approximate paint remaining. Metro's household hazardous-waste limit is 35 gallons per day measured by container size, so ten one-gallon cans count as ten gallons even when partly full. PaintCare sites have their own receiving capacity; call ahead, and keep products in their original labeled containers. Business hazardous waste has separate application, appointment and fee requirements at Metro.