Paint stewardship: PaintCare

Households and businesses generate millions of gallons of leftover paint each year. It’s really messy and expensive to deal with. Garbage haulers don’t want it in their trucks. Drying it out is time consuming. And some paint is hazardous. Most recycling programs miss major opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle leftover paint because they collect only a fraction of it, if they accept it at all.

The PaintCare program provides Washingtonians a better way to manage their leftover paint.

First, call a paint drop-off site to confirm their business hours and ensure they accept your paint. All your paint containers need to have lids and original labels. And make sure to load them in your vehicle securely.

• The program accepts architectural paints, interior and exterior, sold in five-gallon containers or smaller.

• It does not accept industrial coatings, original equipment coatings or specialty coatings.

• In general, the program covers house paint and primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings (for example, shellac and varnish).

• It does not cover solvents and products intended for industrial use. Aerosols (spray cans) are not accepted. 

• See PaintCare’s website for more information.

• Also, you can find a household hazardous waste disposal site near you to get more information on what they accept.

• For disposal of industrial solvents and coatings, check out our guidance on common dangerous wastes. 

PaintCare will accept latex paint from anyone, including households and businesses. However, the program only accepts oil-based paints and other paints that may be dangerous waste from households or small quantity generators. To find out if you are a small quantity generator, visit our generator status page.

• PaintCare is setting up a network of drop-off sites to provide convenient access to all Washington residents. Drop-off sites will include retail stores, household hazardous waste facilities, other solid waste facilities, and some reuse outlets. Select an appropriate link below to learn how your business can become a drop-off site.
  • Retail location
  • Solid waste facilities 

PaintCare will ensure your leftover paint is remixed into recycled paint, used as a fuel, made into other products, or properly disposed.

• Washington Paint Stewardship Program Plan (PDF) describes how PaintCare will operate a system to collect and manage paint in Washington.
• Letter of conditional approval

The law prohibits the sale of architectural paint in Washington — unless it is a product covered by PaintCare. Retailers and distributors that sell or distribute paint in Washington must monitor this page to ensure they stay in compliance with the law.

• Registered paint manufacturers
• Registered paint brands

• PaintCare is required to submit annual reports of their activities in Washington — including program costs, education and outreach efforts, the amount of paint collected, and the methods used to collect, transport, and process the paint.

• In September 2022, we approved PaintCare’s first annual report, covering the period April 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021. Read the report on PaintCare’s website:

  • Washington Paint Stewardship Program 2021 Annual Report

  • 2021 Annual Report Approval Letter