Where to Responsibly Dispose of Paint in NYC

Leftover paint accumulates in New York apartments faster than expected. A gallon bought for a single room, the remains of a color that didn’t work, and cans from a previous resident that never got touched. Most of it ends up in a closet or storage unit until someone moves, and the question arises: What do you actually do with paint you can no longer use?

The answer in New York City is more straightforward than most people expect.

Liquid paint cannot go out with regular trash or recycling in New York City. Pouring it down a drain is harmful to the water system. Dried latex paint in an open, uncovered can is technically permissible as solid waste once fully hardened, but oil-based paint has different rules and requires proper disposal regardless of its state.

The New York City Department of Sanitation runs SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) Disposal events throughout the year at locations across the five boroughs. These events accept paint along with other household hazardous materials, including motor oil, cleaning products, and pesticides. They’re free to use, and they run frequently enough that you usually don’t have to wait more than a few weeks to find one nearby. The current schedule is available on the DSNY website.

PaintCare is a nonprofit paint stewardship organization with drop-off locations at participating paint retailers throughout New York. Most locations accept leftover latex and oil-based paint, stain, and primer regardless of brand. Drop-off is free. The closest location can be found through the store locator at paintcare.org.

Latex paint that has fully dried is accepted as solid waste. You can speed up the process by removing the lid and leaving the can in a well-ventilated area until the paint solidifies, or by adding a commercial paint hardener available at most paint stores. Once dry, the paint and the empty container can go out with regular trash. This option applies to latex only — oil-based paint requires proper disposal through DSNY or PaintCare regardless of condition.

Clearing out old paint cans you’ll never use is one of those seemingly simple tasks that can quickly become a roadblock to a fresh coat of paint when you aren’t sure what to do with them. Once they’re cleared out, you have room to invest in a coat of on-trend Benjamin Moore paint that will give your NYC flat a facelift. And, if you aren’t sure where to start, that’s where your local Benjamin Moore paint dealer comes in. All you need is an idea to get started.

Once the storage closet is sorted, we’re here for whatever comes next. Stop by any of our NYC locations for help choosing the right paint for your space. We’re locally owned and operated, always happy to serve our neighbors throughout Manhattan, SoHo, Chelsea, Long Island City, Gramercy Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Lower East Side, Throgs Neck, The Bronx, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Uptown West, and Yorkville.

Schedule a free in-home color consultation today or visit one of our showrooms to get started.