Paint Disposal in San Antonio, TX: Free HHW Drop-Off

Item: Household paint — leftover or unusable latex and water-based coatings, oil-based and alkyd paint, stains, varnishes, lacquers, shellac, paint thinner and similar paint-related liquids in consumer containers Jurisdiction: San Antonio, Texas — City of San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) service area, Bexar County. Eligibility runs on a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee, not on living inside the city limits Official sources: City of San Antonio SWMD (Household Hazardous Waste, HHW Monthly Drop-Off Events, HHW Quarterly Drop-Off Events, Curbside Brush & Bulky Item Collection, Bulky Waste Collection Centers, Rates & Fees, Contact, Multi-Family Recycling), City of San Antonio Storm Water (Prevent Pollution from HHW), City HHW event news release, SWMD Drop-Off Centers handout (PDF), SWMD Services Guide (PDF), SA Recycles, Bexar County HHW Pickup Program, City of Converse HHW home pickup, TCEQ Household Hazardous Waste guide, TCEQ local HHW program contacts, PaintCare Last verified: September 2026 · Next review: December 2026

Quick answer

In San Antonio, paint is household hazardous waste (HHW). The City states that HHW "should never be placed inside any cart for curbside collection." There is no curbside paint pickup — not in the brown trash cart, not in the blue recycling cart, and not in the twice-a-year brush and bulky collection.

City of San Antonio SWMD customers drop paint off free of charge at one permanent HHW center: 7030 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, open Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–12 p.m., closed Sunday, Monday and City holidays. Two event sites add capacity: a monthly event at the Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center, 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, 78216, and a quarterly event at 2755 Rigsby Avenue, 78222, both 8 a.m.–12 p.m. on event days.

The gate is not your address inside the city limits — it is your utility account. Bring a recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee plus a picture ID. Paint and other liquids are capped at five 5-gallon cans OR 25 1-gallon cans, with a 220-pound total HHW limit per drop-off. Residents of unincorporated Bexar County and participating suburban cities are not eligible for the City center; they use the Bexar County home-collection program at 800-449-7587.

No event dates are printed as promises in this guide. The City's own published date list has not always matched its stated cadence, so confirm the current date before you load the car.

Quick facts

Why paint cannot go in your trash or recycling cart

The City's SWMD page is unambiguous: household hazardous waste "should never be placed inside any cart for curbside collection and always brought to HHW Drop-Off Centers." That closes every ordinary set-out:

• Brown garbage cart: paint is handled as hazardous waste, not household trash.
• Blue recycling cart: paint is not a recyclable and contaminates the stream.
• Curbside brush and bulky: household hazardous waste is on the unaccepted list for both programs, and the service runs only twice a year by door-hanger notification.
• The four Bulky Waste Collection Centers: paint is not on the published accepted-materials list.

Dumping paint on the ground, in the street or into a storm drain is illegal under the City's MS4 storm-water ordinances, Sec. 34-702 and Sec. 34-704. The City's Storm Water office puts it plainly: dumping HHW products on the ground, in the street or into storm drains is against the law.

If you have been waiting for a paint pickup that will never come, stop waiting. HHW has no curbside route in San Antonio, and no amount of extra brush and bulky collection will change that — the twice-yearly pile service accepts grills, furniture, mattresses, appliances, fencing, carpeting and up to six tires without rims, not paint.

Pick your route: decision table

7030 Culebra Road: the permanent HHW drop-off center

This is the workhorse route and the only permanent HHW site in San Antonio.

• Address: 7030 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238
• Hours: Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
• Closed: Sunday, Monday and City holidays — check the City closures page before a holiday week
• Bring: recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee, plus picture ID
• Cost: no fee for SWMD customers

It is staffed and needs no appointment, which makes it the best fit for a mixed load of paint cans, thinner and stain. On the City's accepted-materials list, "Paint" appears as its own entry, and "Lacquer, shellac, furniture polish" is listed separately — so bring those as separate items rather than consolidated into one bucket.

One practical note: the Culebra address is also home to a Bulky Waste Collection Center. That is a different lane with a different accepted list. Paint belongs to the HHW drop-off, not the bulky lane, so say "household hazardous waste" at the gate.

Monthly and quarterly HHW events (Bitters and Rigsby)

Both are same-day events, not year-round sites.

Monthly — Bitters Bulky Waste Collection Center, 1800 Wurzbach Parkway, 78216, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. The published cadence per the City's program site: September–February, the first Saturday of the month; March–August, the first Friday and the next-day Saturday; postponed one week if a holiday falls on the date. The City's published date list has not always matched that cadence, so confirm the upcoming event on the live City page or by calling 3-1-1 before you load the car.

Quarterly — 2755 Rigsby Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78222, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. The City's quarterly page has listed Saturday, February 14, 2026 and Saturday, August 15, 2026. Treat any published date as an example rather than a standing appointment, and re-check the live page before traveling.

Bitters is the monthly event site only. Do not plan a drop-off there on a non-event weekday expecting a permanent facility — only Culebra is permanent.

Comparing the City route, the county route, and retailer advice

• City HHW center and events. Who: SWMD rate payers (CPS Energy bill showing the Environmental Fee plus picture ID). Cost: free; no paint-specific fee in the rate schedule. Takes paint, lacquer, shellac and furniture polish; liquids capped at five 5-gallon or 25 1-gallon cans; 220 lb total; no curbside option. Verify with the City SWMD pages and sarecycles.org.
• Bexar County home collection (At Your Door / Waste Management). Who: unincorporated Bexar County and participating suburban cities — not City of San Antonio rate payers. Cost: described as free on the county page. Takes paint and paint products; a kit is shipped and a contractor collects. Verify with bexar.org and 800-449-7587.
• Retail paint take-back. Not available in Texas. No verified San Antonio retail paint drop-off; PaintCare does not operate here.
• TCEQ dry-and-trash (latex, mostly empty cans). Who: Texas households, per state guidance. Cost: free. A can under one-quarter full can be left open to dry in a well-ventilated area, then trashed once dry. This is state guidance, not a City rule.
• Reuse, donation or storage for later. For usable paint: seal with plastic wrap, secure the lid, store the can upside down.

If you live in a suburban Bexar County city — Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, Converse, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Hill Country Village, Kirby, Leon Valley, Live Oak, Lytle, Schertz, Selma, Universal City, Windcrest and similar — the county program is your route, not the City center. Eligibility follows the CPS Environmental Fee, not city-limits geography. The City of Converse states the county position directly: residents of Bexar County's suburban cities and unincorporated areas are eligible for free home pickup of household hazardous waste through the Haz Mat collection hotline, 800-449-7587.

Store how-to pages that suggest hardening paint with cat litter and trashing it are generic national advice. They are not a San Antonio drop-off promise, and PaintCare's program states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — Texas is not among them. PaintCare's own drop-off rules apply only in PaintCare states and do not apply in San Antonio.

Latex vs oil-based paint: what is actually confirmed

This is the one genuinely unclear part of San Antonio paint disposal, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a guess.

Confirmed: the City's HHW page lists "Paint" generically, with no latex/oil split. Oil-based paints and paint thinner appear in the City's own examples of common HHW.

Not confirmed: no official City page states whether liquid latex or water-based paint is accepted at the center or must instead be dried and trashed. Third-party sources conflict on the point.

Texas state guidance (not a City rule): TCEQ classifies latex paint as a "BOPA" material — with batteries, used oil and antifreeze — that is "generally nonhazardous." For a can less than one-quarter full, TCEQ advises removing the lid, drying the paint in a well-ventilated area, then trashing the dry can. TCEQ also notes household-generated HHW is not required to be managed as hazardous waste and can often go in regular trash.

How to resolve it: call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 before deciding whether liquid latex goes to Culebra. Do not assume either answer. The City's cart rules treat paint as hazardous waste, so dry-and-trash is state guidance to confirm locally, not a San Antonio permission slip.

A plain-language reading of the two positions: if your paint is liquid, the safe assumption is that it belongs at HHW — and the one call that settles it takes less time than the drive to Culebra.

Quantity limits and what it costs

• Limits per drop-off: paint and other liquid waste, five 5-gallon cans OR 25 1-gallon cans; total HHW, 220 pounds. A load over either cap can be refused.
• Cost to SWMD customers: nothing. The City's news release states "There is no fee for this service," and the Storm Water page repeats that SWMD "provides this service free to Solid Waste customers."
• What funds it: the Environmental Fee on your monthly solid waste bill — $3.00 Environmental Fee – Solid Waste plus $2.00 Environmental Fee – Parks. Monthly rates are $14.76 (48-gallon), $20.26 (64-gallon) and $30.75 (96-gallon). No paint-specific or HHW-specific fee appears in the published rate schedule.

Do not confuse the free HHW drop-off with the separate paid extra brush and bulky collection at $50 for one item or up to 4 cubic yards, plus $25 per additional four cubic yards. Paint is not accepted there at any price.

How to pack and transport paint so it is accepted

A refused load usually comes down to packing.

• Keep paint in its original container.
• If a container is leaking, transfer the contents to a leak-proof container or a lined cardboard box.
• Do not mix materials in one container or bag — oil-based, latex, thinner and stain stay separate.
• Box everything and put it in the trunk or truck bed for transport.
• A technician unloads the materials and returns your containers on request.
• Materials in a non-approved container are not returned to you.
• TCEQ adds: keep products in original, readable containers; transport upright and secured so nothing leaks; never mix products together.
• Bring the CPS Energy bill showing the Environmental Fee and a picture ID.
• Respect the caps: five 5-gallon cans OR 25 1-gallon cans, 220 lb total.

Two details trip people up. First, an unlabeled container can cost you the whole load — the rule is original, readable containers, so label anything you had to transfer. Second, "technician unloads" means you should not expect to walk your cans to a bin yourself; park, keep the load boxed, and let staff handle it.

Renters, apartments, and multi-family buildings

• Eligibility is a utility-account document. A recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee plus picture ID is the requirement, so a renter whose name is on the CPS account qualifies exactly as a homeowner does.
• The unresolved case: the City publishes no rule for a renter whose utilities are bundled into rent and who holds no CPS Energy account. Nothing official says a lease or a landlord's bill is accepted. Call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 to ask what proof works — do not drive out to Culebra on a guess.
• The multi-family recycling ordinance is not a paint route. Since a December 9, 2010 City Council ordinance (City Code Ch. 14, Sec. 14-43), apartment properties must provide recycling services to occupants. It covers recyclables only and creates no paint or HHW collection.
• No building-wide HHW service exists. Tenants and property managers use the same resident drop-off and event routes under the same CPS bill and ID rule. There is no apartment-complex paint pickup to ask your manager for.
• Large cleanouts can be classed as commercial. Commercial and medical waste is explicitly not accepted and no numeric threshold is published, so a big pile of landlord or business paint may be refused. Plan a commercial disposal route instead.
• No car? The county home collection helps only if you actually live in unincorporated Bexar County or a participating suburban city. Renting inside San Antonio does not make you eligible.

Safety, legal, and eligibility caveats

• Never put paint in any curbside cart — garbage, recycling, brush or bulky.
• Never pour paint down a drain, into a yard or into a storm inlet; it is illegal under the City's ordinances Sec. 34-702 and Sec. 34-704.
• Keep paint away from children and pets until drop-off.
• Do not mix materials, and do not use unlabeled containers.
• Keep household and commercial paint separate — commercial and medical waste is refused.
• Transport cans upright and secured so nothing leaks into your vehicle.
• Only SWMD rate payers can use the City site; suburban and unincorporated county residents must use 800-449-7587.
• Address does not decide this. A San Antonio street address without the CPS Environmental Fee is not sufficient proof, and a suburban address with a qualifying account is not served by the City center.

Before you load the car: verification checklist

1. Confirm you are an SWMD customer — your recent CPS Energy bill should show payment of the Environmental Fee.
2. Confirm current hours and any holiday closure on the City HHW page.
3. Confirm the next monthly event date on the City's monthly HHW page or sarecycles.org.
4. Confirm the next quarterly Rigsby date on the City's quarterly HHW page.
5. Ask 3-1-1 whether liquid latex paint is accepted at the City center, since no City page distinguishes it from oil-based paint.
6. Ask 3-1-1 whether dried latex may go in the brown cart — dry-and-trash is state guidance, not a confirmed City rule.
7. If you are outside the City service area, confirm county eligibility at 800-449-7587.
8. Confirm current fees and limits on the City's Rates & Fees and HHW pages.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Setting paint out for curbside brush or bulky, or leaving it by a dumpster or compactor.
2. Putting liquid paint in the garbage or recycling cart.
3. Pouring paint down a drain, into the yard or into a storm inlet.
4. Arriving at Culebra without a recent CPS Energy bill and picture ID.
5. Exceeding the caps — five 5-gallon cans OR 25 1-gallon cans, 220 lb total.
6. Mixing paint, thinner and stain in one container.
7. Planning a paint drop-off at Bitters on a non-event weekday.
8. Assuming a hardware or paint store will take leftover paint in Texas.
9. Assuming a lease substitutes for a CPS Energy account if you rent.
10. Treating a suburban Bexar County address as eligible for the City center.

FAQ

Can San Antonio pick up paint at the curb? No. Household hazardous waste is unaccepted in curbside brush and bulky collection, and the City says HHW should never go in any cart.

Where do I take paint? The permanent HHW drop-off at 7030 Culebra Road, 78238 — Tuesday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–12 p.m. The monthly Bitters event and the quarterly Rigsby Avenue event are the alternatives.

Is it free? Yes for SWMD customers. The City states there is no fee for the service, and no paint-specific fee appears in the rate schedule. You do pay the Environmental Fee on your CPS Energy bill, which is what makes you eligible.

What proof do I need? A recent CPS Energy bill showing payment of the Environmental Fee plus a picture ID.

How much paint can I bring? Five 5-gallon cans OR 25 1-gallon cans of paint and other liquids, with a 220-pound total HHW limit.

Can dried latex paint go in the trash? Texas state guidance says a can under one-quarter full can be left open to dry and then trashed. That is TCEQ guidance, not a confirmed City of San Antonio rule — call 3-1-1 to check how it applies to your brown cart.

Will a paint store or home center take it? No verified San Antonio retailer paint take-back exists. PaintCare does not operate in Texas.

I rent an apartment and utilities are included in my rent. Can I use the center? Unresolved. The City requires a CPS Energy bill showing the Environmental Fee and publishes no alternative proof. Call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000.

I live in Helotes, Converse or unincorporated Bexar County. Can I use Culebra? No — you are not an SWMD rate payer. Use the Bexar County home collection at 800-449-7587.

What about paint thinner, stain, varnish and shellac? Same route as paint. The City lists "Lacquer, shellac, furniture polish" separately from "Paint," and the liquid caps of five 5-gallon or 25 1-gallon cans cover paint and other liquid waste. Keep each material in its own original container.

Sources

1. City of San Antonio SWMD — Household Hazardous Waste: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/HHW
2. City of San Antonio — HHW Monthly Drop-Off Events: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/HHW/Monthly
3. City of San Antonio — HHW Quarterly Drop-Off Events: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/HHW/Quarterly
4. SA Recycles — HHW Drop-Off Centers: https://sarecycles.org/services/drop-off-centers/household-hazardous-waste-drop-off-centers
5. City of San Antonio — Drop-Off Centers handout (PDF): https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/SWMD/Events/Drop-Off-Centers.pdf
6. City of San Antonio — Services Guide (PDF): https://www.sa.gov/files/assets/main/v/1/swmd/documents/servicesguideen.pdf
7. City of San Antonio — Curbside Brush & Bulky Item Collection: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/Brush-Bulky/Curbside
8. City of San Antonio — Bulky Waste Collection Centers: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/Brush-Bulky/Bulky-Drop-Off
9. City of San Antonio — Rates & Fees: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/Curbside-Service/Rates-Fees
10. City of San Antonio — Prevent Pollution from HHW (Storm Water): https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/PWD/Storm-Water/Remember-the-River/How-You-Can-Help/Prevent-Pollution-from-HHW
11. City of San Antonio — HHW event news release: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Solid-Waste-Management-Household-Hazardous-Waste-Event-on-March-7-and-82
12. City of San Antonio — SWMD Contact: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/Contact
13. City of San Antonio — Multi-Family Recycling: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/SWMD/Business-Commercial/Multi-Family-Recycling
14. Bexar County — Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Program: https://www.bexar.org/533/Household-Hazardous-Waste-Pickup-Program
15. City of Converse — Household Hazardous Wastes Home Pick-Up Program: https://conversetx.gov/business_detail_T14_R4.php
16. TCEQ — Household Hazardous Waste: A Guide for Texans: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/hhw
17. TCEQ — Contacts for Local HHW Programs: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/hhw/contacts.html
18. PaintCare — Drop-off site locator: https://www.paintcare.org/drop-off-sites

Related guides: San Antonio household hazardous waste disposal, bulky item disposal, brush and bulky collection.

Verify before you act. Addresses, hours, holiday closures, accepted materials, event cadence, rates and program boundaries change, and the City's event listings are date-sensitive. Confirm the current date, your liquid latex question and your eligibility with SWMD at 3-1-1 / 210-207-6000 before you load a vehicle. This guide covers the City of San Antonio SWMD service area: eligibility runs on a CPS Energy bill showing the Environmental Fee rather than on city limits, independent Bexar County cities and unincorporated county areas use the separate county home-collection program at 800-449-7587, and commercial or medical waste is not accepted at the City HHW center at any price.