Every Garage in Oregon
Go look at your garage shelf right now. There are paint cans on it. Probably 5 to 15 of them. Half-gallon of "Agreeable Gray" from the bedroom project in 2019. A quart of trim paint from 2016. That gallon of exterior paint you bought too much of. A few mystery cans with no labels that might be primer or might be from the previous homeowner.
You can't throw paint in the trash in Oregon. You can't pour it down the drain. And you definitely can't dump it in the yard. But Oregon has one of the best paint recycling programs in the country — it just requires knowing where to go.
Oregon's PaintCare Program
Oregon was the first state to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for paint in 2009. The PaintCare program means paint manufacturers fund the recycling infrastructure. Translation: you can drop off leftover paint for free at hundreds of locations statewide.
What PaintCare Accepts (FREE)
- Latex paint (water-based)
- Oil-based paint (alkyd)
- Stains and sealers
- Primers and undercoaters
- Deck coatings and floor paints
- Shellac and lacquer
What PaintCare Does NOT Accept
- Aerosol/spray paint (handled as hazardous waste)
- Paint thinner, mineral spirits, solvents
- Two-part epoxy or automotive paint
- Industrial coatings
- Containers larger than 5 gallons
Drop-Off Locations
There are over 150 PaintCare drop-off sites in Oregon. Most Sherwin-Williams, Miller Paint, and Dunn-Edwards stores accept paint. Many hardware stores (including some Ace Hardware locations) participate too. Search the PaintCare site locator for the closest one.
Portland metro has dozens of locations. Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford, and Corvallis all have multiple drop-off points. Even smaller towns usually have at least one hardware store participating.
How to Prepare Paint for Drop-Off
PaintCare sites have rules about how paint should arrive:
- Lids must be secure. Dried-shut lids are fine — don't pry them open.
- Original containers preferred. If the original can is rusted through, transfer paint to a sealable container and label it.
- Maximum 5 gallons per container. No 55-gallon drums.
- No mixing. Don't consolidate different paints into one can. Drop off each can separately.
- No leaking containers. If a can is rusted and leaking, put it inside a plastic bag or larger container before transporting.
Most sites have a limit of 5 gallons per visit (some allow more). If you've got 20 cans in your garage, you may need two trips or a larger drop-off event.
What About Dried-Out Paint?
Here's a shortcut most people don't know: completely dried latex paint can go in your regular trash. If the paint is solid all the way through — no liquid remaining — the can goes in the garbage.
To dry out latex paint:
- Small amounts (under a quarter full): Remove the lid and let it air-dry. Takes 1 to 3 days in summer, longer in Oregon's wet winters.
- Larger amounts: Add cat litter, sawdust, or commercial paint hardener (available at hardware stores for $3 to $5). Stir it in, wait 24 hours, confirm it's solid.
- Full or mostly full cans: Pour thin layers into a cardboard box lined with plastic. Each layer dries in a day or two. This works but takes patience for a full gallon.
Important: This only works for latex (water-based) paint. Oil-based paint must go through PaintCare or a hazardous waste collection event regardless of its state.
Hazardous Waste Events
For spray paint, solvents, two-part products, and other items PaintCare doesn't accept, Oregon counties run periodic hazardous waste collection events:
- Metro (Portland area): Permanent drop-off at Metro South and Metro Central transfer stations. No appointment needed. Free for households.
- Lane County (Eugene): Hazardous waste depot at Glenwood. Open specific days/hours.
- Marion County (Salem): Periodic collection events — check the county website for dates.
- Deschutes County (Bend): Household hazardous waste facility at Knott Landfill.
Or Just Call Us
If you've got a garage shelf full of old paint cans and don't want to sort through them, load your car, and make trips to drop-off sites, a junk removal service can handle it. We'll sort the paint cans (PaintCare-eligible vs. hazardous waste), handle proper disposal, and clear the shelf in one visit.
Paint can removal as part of a garage cleanout is one of our most common add-on items. The paint cans themselves add $20 to $50 to a garage cleanout job. Much easier than three trips to Sherwin-Williams with your trunk full of leaking cans.
Schedule a garage cleanout and let us deal with the paint shelf.
