Item: Paint — leftover, unused and empty cans of latex/water-based, oil-based/alkyd and spray/aerosol paint, plus primers, stains, sealers, varnishes and shellacs (adjacent: paint thinners, mineral spirits, turpentine, paint tubes, mixed paint) Jurisdiction: New York City — all five boroughs. State layer: New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program Official sources: NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), NYC311, NYSDEC, PaintCare Last verified: September 2026
Quick Answer
The word "paint" hides three different materials. Latex, oil-based and spray paint each follow a different route, and the route changes again with how much you have. A half-empty can of ceiling paint and a shelf of alkyd enamel are not the same disposal problem.
For a household address in the five boroughs, there are three legitimate routes and no fourth:
- Small amounts — roughly a can or two — can be dried out and put in the trash. DSNY says to let small amounts of paint dry, or mix in kitty litter, newspaper or another absorbent material to soak it up, then place it in the trash. Once a can is empty and dry, set it out with your recycling the night before your recycling collection day if it is metal, glass or plastic. Paint tubes go in the trash and are not recyclable.
- Anything more than a couple of cans goes somewhere official: a DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off site (one per borough, Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, paint up to 5 gallons per visit), a DSNY SAFE Disposal Event, or a PaintCare drop-off at a participating paint retailer.
- Drop-off is free at all three. There is no curbside or bulk paint collection in NYC and no building-level paint programme — you carry it, or you pay a private hauler.
The line that decides everything: latex/water-based paint behaves differently from oil-based/alkyd paint, and spray/aerosol paint is accepted at DSNY sites and SAFE events but refused by PaintCare. Spray cans are the most common mis-route.
Quick Facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can paint go in the trash? | Only small amounts — roughly a can or two — and only once dried, or soaked into kitty litter, newspaper or another absorbent material |
| Where does everything else go? | A DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off site, a DSNY SAFE Disposal Event, or a PaintCare retail drop-off |
| What does it cost? | Nothing — all three routes are free for residents |
| Is there curbside paint pickup? | No. No curbside or bulk paint collection is listed in NYC |
| What is the biggest limit? | 5 gallons per visit at DSNY sites; PaintCare sites take at least 5 gallons per visit, some more |
| What does PaintCare refuse? | Spray cans, thinners, mineral spirits, solvents, mixed paint, dry paint, empty cans, unlabelled and leaking cans |
| Who is excluded? | Businesses and commercial vehicles — DSNY sites and SAFE events are residents only |
| Who to call | 311, or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) |
Who this covers — eligibility in plain terms
This guide covers residential addresses in the five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Renters and owners both qualify, and eligibility is based on the address, not on who owns the building.
It does not cover:
- Businesses and commercial vehicles. DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off sites and SAFE Disposal Events are for NYC residents only; businesses and commercial vehicles are turned away. Businesses use PaintCare, or a private hauler.
- Addresses outside DSNY's service area. If your building contracts its own waste removal, the DSNY routes below may not apply to you at all.
- Waste generated outside New York City. SAFE Disposal Events will not take it.
Jurisdiction warning
This is for New York City's five boroughs only, with the New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program as the state layer. Buildings outside DSNY's service area, other New York State municipalities and neighbouring states — Yonkers, Long Island, New Jersey — follow different rules. Nothing here should be assumed to carry over the city line.
Inside the city, three things are decided locally rather than citywide:
- Businesses cannot use the residential DSNY routes, regardless of what sits above them.
- Landlords, co-op and condo boards, and building management can impose stricter storage and set-out rules that override the general guidance — confirm with building management before staging anything.
- The PaintCare drop-off nearest you is a specific store, and its hours, amount allowances and restrictions are set per site.
Address limits: your route depends on your building, not just your borough
Two buildings on the same block can have different situations. Check these before you load the car:
- DSNY service. If your building is DSNY-serviced, the free borough drop-off sites and SAFE events are open to you. If your building has contracted waste removal, ask management how bulk material is handled.
- Your borough's site. There is exactly one Special Waste Drop-Off site per borough, and you travel to it — there is no neighbourhood-level paint drop-off and no pickup van.
- Your building's rules. Nothing collects paint at your building. No landlord, super or management company runs a paint programme in NYC, unlike ecycleNYC for e-waste.
- Your store's rules. PaintCare acceptance is not uniform: call the specific retailer before travelling.
Confirm all rules with the official source or 311 before you act.
Latex vs oil-based vs spray paint: what changes
Latex and other water-based paint is the easy category. Small amounts can be dried at home and trashed; larger amounts belong at a DSNY site or, better, in the PaintCare take-back stream. Drying is the step people skip: do not bag liquid paint — leave the can open until the contents solidify, or stir in kitty litter or newspaper so the residue is a solid, then trash it. Only the empty, dry can goes to recycling, and only if it is metal, glass or plastic.
Oil-based and alkyd paint is where it gets serious. NYSDEC treats oil-based paints as an example of household hazardous waste, and DEC's universal waste paint fact sheet notes oil-based paint and varnishes may be ignitable. Household-generated hazardous waste is exempt from state and federal hazardous waste regulations, but that exemption is about who regulates it, not where it goes.
NYC311 does publish a small-quantity method: you can throw out small amounts of oil-based paint, paint thinner, turpentine, household chemicals or tar in regular trash by pouring the remaining liquid into a black trash bag filled with kitty litter, newspaper or other absorbent material. NYC311 then says that for more than a couple of cans, contact a private hauler or environmental services company.
The honest answer: dry out small amounts with absorbent material, and check with 311 before doing anything larger. The official sources are not perfectly aligned — DSNY's live Harmful Household Products page covers drying small amounts of "Latex, Non-latex, and Spray Paint", NYC311 carries the oil-based wording above, and an older DSNY brochure describes drying both latex and oil-based paint. Treat the live DSNY pages and 311 as controlling, and call 311 (212-NEW-YORK, 212-639-9675) if you hold more than a can or two of oil-based paint, thinner or turpentine.
Spray and aerosol paint is accepted at DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off sites (listed as "Aerosols") and at SAFE Disposal Events ("spray paint"), but PaintCare does not accept aerosol coatings. Send spray cans to DSNY, never to a retailer drop-off.
What PaintCare means by "paint": its scope is architectural paint — interior and exterior architectural coatings sold in containers of five gallons or less — including latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based and enamel paints, textured coatings, deck and floor paints including elastomeric, primers, sealers, undercoaters, stains, single-component shellacs, lacquers, varnishes and urethanes, waterproofing masonry and wood sealers (not tar- or bitumen-based), metal coatings and rust preventatives, and field and lawn paints.
It does not accept thinners, mineral spirits or solvents, aerosol coatings, auto and marine paint, art and craft paint, caulking, epoxies, glues or adhesives, colourants and tints, wood preservatives containing pesticides, roof patch and repair, asphalt and tar-based products, two-component coatings, deck cleaners, traffic and road-marking paints, industrial maintenance coatings, or OEM shop-application paints.
DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off sites: five boroughs, Tuesday–Saturday
One site per borough, open to NYC residents, and the default recommendation for liquid paint you would rather not dry out yourself. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, closed on legal holidays and during severe weather.
| Borough | Location |
|---|---|
| Bronx | Hunts Point — Farragut Street and the East River, next to the Fulton Fish Market; enter on Farragut Street off Food Center Drive |
| Brooklyn | Greenpoint — 459 North Henry Street; entrance off Kingsland Avenue north of Greenpoint Avenue |
| Manhattan | Lower East Side / Two Bridges — 74 Pike Slip, between Cherry Street and South Street, under the Manhattan Bridge |
| Queens | College Point — 30th Avenue between 120th and 122nd Streets, DSNY Queens District 7 garage |
| Staten Island | Fresh Kills — off the Muldoon Avenue exit of the southbound West Shore Expressway, past the DSNY security booth |
Paint accepted: up to 5 gallons per visit. DSNY's own flyer states: "Paint — We now accept all paints."
Who may use it: NYC residents only. Businesses and commercial vehicles are turned away, and staff may ask for proof of residency such as a New York State driver licence or a utility bill. A personal or rental car is fine; a car used in commercial work is not. The visit is do-it-yourself, with staff on hand to direct you, and DSNY strongly recommends casual clothes and work gloves. Not every site is visible from the road, so check the address and the approach first.
SAFE Disposal Events: the seasonal route, especially for spray paint
DSNY's SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables and Electronics) Disposal Events run every year in all five boroughs because some household items are toxic, corrosive or could catch fire. Paint cans and spray paint are both accepted.
Bring valid ID and proof of NYC residency, such as a phone or utility bill. Not accepted: appliances with CFC or Freon, asbestos, commercial waste, cooking oil or grease, tires, or waste generated outside New York City. Label products clearly, seal containers tightly, pack leaking items inside a larger container with absorbent material, and bag or box anything broken separately.
The schedule rotates and locations move, so do not trust a date from an older article. Check DSNY's SAFE Disposal Events page or the NYC311 article for the current borough date.
PaintCare take-back: free drop-off at paint retailers
PaintCare is a nonprofit created by the paint industry to run leftover-paint stewardship programmes, and it has operated New York's Postconsumer Paint Collection Program since 1 May 2022 under New York State Environmental Conservation Law Article 27, Title 20. The state programme was planned to provide more than 300 drop-off sites statewide, and DSNY's 2024 Zero Waste Report counted 61 PaintCare locations in New York City in FY24 — a programme-report figure, not a live count, so use the PaintCare New York locator for current sites. PaintCare serves residents, businesses, agencies and nonprofits, and there is no charge to drop off paint.
Container rules are strict. Each can must be in its original container, no larger than 5 gallons, with the original printed manufacturer's label and a lid tightly secured. PaintCare will not take open or leaking cans, unlabelled containers, mixed paint, dry paint or empty cans.
Volume: all sites accept at least 5 gallons per visit and some accept more, so 5 gallons is a floor, not a limit. Per-site hours, allowances and restrictions vary and are not published in a consistent format — call the store ahead.
Large loads: PaintCare offers a free large-volume pickup for 100 gallons or more, measured by container size rather than liquid volume, aimed at contractors, property managers and other large holders. Staten Island households with more than ten gallons of leftover paint, stain and varnish have a free PaintCare door-to-door pickup described as a limited-time service — verify it is still running first.
What is free — and what the PaintCare fee really is
Residents pay nothing to use a DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off site, a SAFE Disposal Event, or a PaintCare drop-off. The PaintCare fee is a charge on new paint sales, by container size, and it is explicitly not a tax and not a deposit:
| Container size | PaintCare fee |
|---|---|
| Half pint or smaller | $0.00 |
| Larger than half pint, up to smaller than 1 gallon | $0.45 |
| 1–2 gallons | $0.95 |
| Larger than 2 gallons, up to 5 gallons | $1.95 |
That money funds the collection network; it is not charged when you drop paint off.
The route with no published price is the one 311 sends larger loads to. Private haulers and environmental services companies set their own charges, and no NYC fee schedule exists for them. Request quotes instead of budgeting against a number from an article.
Prep rules: the can, the lid and the label
Almost every rejection at drop-off is a packaging problem, not a paint problem.
- Keep paint in its original container with the original printed label. A can with no label, or contents you cannot identify, does not fit the take-back stream — call 311 rather than guessing a route.
- Secure the lid. Open or leaking cans are refused; pack leaking cans inside a larger container with absorbent material.
- Never mix paints together. DSNY lists mixed paint as a do-not-bring, and PaintCare refuses it.
- Dry out small amounts only for the trash route, and never put wet paint out for collection.
- Empty and dry is not the same as recyclable. Empty dry cans go out with recycling if metal, glass or plastic, but PaintCare refuses empty cans and dry paint. Paint tubes go in the trash and are not recyclable.
- Call the specific PaintCare site ahead to confirm hours and restrictions.
Which NYC paint route fits your situation?
| Route | Who it fits | Cost | Appointment | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry out small amounts, trash the residue | Any household; roughly a can or two | Free | No | Small amounts only — 311 sends more than a couple of cans to a private hauler |
| DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off | Oil-based/alkyd or spray paint, or paint worth recycling | Free | No — Tue–Sat, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | 5 gallons per visit; residents only; no commercial vehicles; holiday and storm closures |
| DSNY SAFE Disposal Event | Households clearing solvents, flammables and electronics too | Free | No — rotating schedule | Valid ID plus proof of NYC residency; no waste from outside NYC |
| PaintCare retail drop-off | Renters without a car, latex leftovers, labelled architectural paint | Free | No — call the store first | No spray cans, thinners, mixed, dry or empty cans; 5-gallon minimum per visit |
| PaintCare large-volume pickup (100+ gal) | Contractors, property managers, buildings after a big repaint | Free | Yes — request a pickup | Architectural paint only; container size is what is measured |
| Staten Island door-to-door pickup | Staten Island households with more than ten gallons | Free | Yes — arrange with PaintCare | Limited-time service; confirm it is still running |
| Private hauler / environmental services | Larger household loads, businesses, anyone who cannot transport paint | Not published — the hauler sets its price | Yes — direct with the provider | Ask how they handle liquid paint, unlabelled cans and oil-based material |
| Curbside or bulk paint collection | Not a listed NYC service | — | — | Never set liquid paint out with trash or recycling |
Apartment and renter edge cases
There is no building-level paint programme in NYC. Unlike e-waste, where qualifying apartment buildings can get a collection bin through ecycleNYC, nothing collects paint at your building — not the landlord, not the super, not the management company. Renters handle their own paint, and two rules are firm: never pour leftover liquid paint down a drain, into a building trash chute, or into a curb bin, and never assume the building will absorb it during a cleanout.
You still qualify for the free routes. A renter is an NYC resident, so DSNY drop-off sites and SAFE events are open to you regardless of building type — you just have to transport the paint yourself, and no appointment is needed at a site. A New York State driver licence or a utility bill covers a residency check.
No car? PaintCare drop-off at a paint retailer is usually the most transit-friendly option, since participating locations are stores rather than waste facilities. Call ahead for hours and the store's amount limit. With only a can or two, drying the paint at home avoids the trip entirely.
After a full apartment repaint, count your cans first: the 5-gallon-per-visit cap applies at DSNY sites and PaintCare alike, so a serious repaint load can mean more than one trip. If the building is clearing a large volume, the free 100-gallon-plus PaintCare pickup is worth raising with building management. On Staten Island, households above ten gallons should check whether door-to-door pickup is still available.
Store what you keep properly. DEC's household hazardous waste guidance is to keep paint in its original container with the label intact, away from heat, and out of reach of children and pets.
Safety caveats for handling and transporting paint
- Oil-based paint and varnishes may be ignitable and are classified as household hazardous waste, so keep them away from heat and never pour them down a drain, into a toilet, or into a storm sewer.
- Dry out small amounts only, and never bag wet paint for the trash.
- Transport cans upright with the lid secured; pack damaged or leaking cans inside a larger container with absorbent material, and seal broken glass separately.
- Wear work gloves and clothes you do not mind dirtying at a DSNY site, as DSNY recommends.
- Keep paint out of reach of children and pets while it is stored.
Mistakes that cost you a trip
- Taking spray cans to a paint retailer. PaintCare does not accept aerosol coatings. Spray paint goes to a DSNY site or a SAFE event.
- Bringing a can with no label. PaintCare requires the original printed manufacturer label; unidentified paint does not fit the take-back stream.
- Mixing paints to save space. Mixed paint is refused by PaintCare and listed by DSNY as a do-not-bring.
- Turning up with a full repaint's worth of cans. 5 gallons per visit at DSNY sites; a bigger load means a second trip or the 100-gallon-plus pickup.
- Arriving on a Sunday or a holiday. DSNY sites open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, and close for legal holidays and severe weather.
- Driving a commercial vehicle. DSNY sites and SAFE events turn commercial vehicles away.
- Following a SAFE event date from an old article. The schedule rotates; check the DSNY SAFE page or NYC311.
- Setting liquid paint out with the trash. Only small dried-out amounts go in the trash, and the empty dry can goes in recycling only if it is metal, glass or plastic.
Official verification checklist
- Sort every can into latex/water-based, oil-based/alkyd, spray/aerosol, and unknown. Set the unknowns aside — an unlabelled can does not fit any take-back stream.
- Check the container: original can, original printed manufacturer label, 5 gallons or smaller, lid tightly secured — and not mixed, dry, leaking or empty.
- For PaintCare, find your nearest site on the PaintCare New York locator, then call that store to confirm hours, whether it accepts more than 5 gallons, and any restrictions.
- For a Special Waste Drop-Off site, confirm the nearest borough site and that it is open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, and not closed for a legal holiday or severe weather.
- For a SAFE Disposal Event, check the current seasonal schedule and bring valid ID plus proof of NYC residency.
- For more than a couple of cans of oil-based paint, thinner or turpentine, call 311 before drying and trashing anything.
- For 100 gallons or more, request the free PaintCare large-volume pickup; Staten Island households above ten gallons should check the door-to-door service.
- If the paint came from a business, stop: DSNY sites and SAFE events do not serve businesses. Businesses use PaintCare (latex in any amount; oil-based only if the business qualifies as an exempt generator/very small quantity generator, otherwise a PaintCare pickup) or a private hauler.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put leftover paint in the trash in NYC? Only small amounts, and only once dried, per DSNY. For more than a couple of cans, NYC311 directs you to a private hauler or environmental services company.
Can paint cans go in the recycling? Only empty, dry cans, and only if they are metal, glass or plastic. Paint tubes go in the trash. PaintCare refuses both empty cans and dry paint.
Will PaintCare take my spray paint or thinner? No. PaintCare does not accept aerosol coatings, thinners, mineral spirits or solvents. Take those to a DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off site or a SAFE Disposal Event.
Do I need an appointment, and can paint be collected curbside? No appointment is needed at a Special Waste Drop-Off site, and no curbside or bulk paint collection is listed in NYC. Paint goes to a drop-off site, an event, a take-back location, or a private hauler — never out with trash or recycling.
Do I have to pay to drop paint off? No. Drop-off is free at DSNY sites, SAFE Disposal Events and PaintCare sites. The PaintCare fee is charged on new paint purchases, not on disposal, and it is not a tax or a deposit.
My can has no label and I do not know what is in it. Do not guess. PaintCare requires the original printed manufacturer label, and unidentified paint does not fit the take-back stream. Call 311 for guidance on that can.
What about a can or two of oil-based paint — can that go in the trash? NYC311 describes a small-quantity method: pour the remaining liquid into a black trash bag filled with kitty litter, newspaper or another absorbent material. Sources are not fully aligned on this point, so treat it as small amounts only and call 311 before drying and trashing more than a couple of cans. Oil-based paint is classified by NYSDEC as household hazardous waste and may be ignitable.
I am a business. Can I use the free DSNY routes? No. DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off sites and SAFE Disposal Events are residents only, with no businesses and no commercial vehicles. Businesses use PaintCare — latex in any amount, oil-based only if the business qualifies as an exempt generator/very small quantity generator — or a private hauler.
Sources
- DSNY — Special Waste Drop-Off: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/what-we-do/programs/special-waste-drop-off.page
- DSNY — Harmful Household Products (paint drying, empty-can recycling, PaintCare rules): https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/get-rid-of/harmful-household-products.page
- DSNY — Special Waste Drop-Off flyer (PDF; "Paint — We now accept all paints"): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/what-we-do/programs/special-waste-how-to-dispose-flyer.pdf
- DSNY — SAFE Disposal Events: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/what-we-do/programs/safe-disposal-events.page
- NYC311 — Special Waste Disposal (KA-01973): https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01973
- NYC311 — Flammable Liquid Disposal / SAFE events (KA-02467): https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02467
- PaintCare — New York (locator, drop-off, Staten Island door-to-door): https://www.paintcare.org/states/new-york/
- PaintCare — Products accepted and not accepted: https://www.paintcare.org/products/
- PaintCare — Fee schedule: https://www.paintcare.org/fee/
- PaintCare — FAQ (5-gallon minimum per visit, 100-gallon pickup): https://www.paintcare.org/faqs
- NYSDEC — Postconsumer Paint Collection Program: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/recycling-composting/postconsumer-paint-collection
- NYSDEC — Household Hazardous Waste (oil-based paint classification, storage guidance): https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/waste-management/solid-waste-types/household-hazardous-waste
- NYSDEC — Universal Waste Paint fact sheet (PDF): https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/uwpaintfs.pdf
- NYSDEC — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (PDF): https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/newpaintcareplan.pdf
- NYSDEC — DEC launches paint recycling program (300+ sites, 5 gallons per visit, 100-gallon pickup): https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2022/5/dec-launches-new-paint-recycling-program-to-help-consumers-and-businesses-safely-dispose-of-leftover-paint
- DSNY — 2024 Zero Waste Report (PDF; PaintCare NYC location count, FY24): https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/resources/reports/zero-waste-plan/zero-waste-report-2024.pdf
- NYC Open Data — DSNY Special Waste Drop-off Sites: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/DSNY-Special-Waste-Drop-off-Sites/242c-ru4i
Related reading: full disposal guide index, plus guides for e-waste disposal and household chemicals.
Sources checked 9 September 2026; next review 9 December 2026. DSNY, NYC311, NYSDEC and PaintCare are the final authority on paint rules, eligibility, fees and current schedules. Site hours, event dates and per-site acceptance rules change — confirm on the live official pages, or call 311 (212-639-9675), before you load the car.